Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) - causes, symptoms & pathology

Osmosis from Elsevier
7 Mar 201605:19
EducationalLearning
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TLDRObsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) aimed at reducing anxiety. Common compulsions include excessive cleaning, checking, and arranging, often stemming from obsessions about germs or safety. OCD affects about 3% of the population, with onset typically in childhood or adolescence. Though the exact cause is unknown, genetic factors and serotonin abnormalities are implicated. Treatment involves cognitive-behavioral therapy, particularly exposure and response prevention, and medication with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). With proper treatment, individuals can return to normal daily functioning.

Takeaways
  • 🔄 Double-checking is a common behavior, but excessive checking can be a sign of an obsession.
  • 🔥 Compulsions can manifest as rituals, such as repeatedly checking if the stove or oven is off before leaving home.
  • 🤔 Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by obsessions and compulsions.
  • 💡 Obsessions are unwanted, intrusive thoughts that are difficult to dismiss, often leading to anxiety.
  • 🏠 Compulsions are actions performed to reduce the anxiety caused by obsessions.
  • 👥 OCD affects approximately 3% of the population, impacting both men and women equally, and often begins in childhood or adolescence.
  • 🌟 Some well-known individuals, such as David Beckham and Howie Mandel, are affected by OCD.
  • 🔄 A diagnosis of OCD does not require both obsessions and compulsions; some individuals may have only one.
  • 🧼 Common compulsions include excessive cleaning and checking, often stemming from obsessions about germs or safety.
  • 🔑 The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) provides specific criteria for diagnosing OCD.
  • 🛠 Treatment for OCD typically involves psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of both, with cognitive behavior therapy and SSRIs being effective approaches.
Q & A

  • What is the common human behavior that can be considered an obsession if done excessively?

    -Double-checking things like shutting the garage door, locking the front door, or turning off the gas stove and oven can be considered an obsession if done excessively, such as triple-checking or more.

  • What is considered a compulsion according to the script?

    -A compulsion is a ritual that must be performed, like ensuring the gas stove and oven are off, cleaning them, and checking for heat before leaving the house.

  • What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?

    -OCD is a specific type of anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent and intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and actions (compulsions) that are performed to reduce anxiety.

  • What are obsessions in the context of OCD?

    -Obsessions are unwanted and persistent thoughts that are difficult to get out of one's mind, such as thoughts of 'my house is unsafe'.

  • How do compulsions relate to obsessions in OCD?

    -Compulsions are actions performed to try and reduce the anxiety associated with obsessions.

  • What percentage of the population is affected by OCD and when does it usually start?

    -OCD affects around 3% of the population and usually starts in childhood or the teen years.

  • Can you name any celebrities known to be affected by OCD?

    -Celebrities like David Beckham, Howie Mandel, and Howard Hughes are known to be affected by OCD.

  • Is it necessary to have both obsessions and compulsions for a diagnosis of OCD?

    -No, one doesn’t need both obsessions and compulsions for a diagnosis. Some individuals might have just obsessions or just compulsions, but the majority have both.

  • What are some common compulsions associated with OCD?

    -Common compulsions include cleaning due to an obsession with germs or contamination, checking to ensure safety, repeating actions or phrases, ordering and arranging things, and mental rituals.

  • What are the diagnostic criteria for OCD according to the DSM-V?

    -The DSM-V criteria for OCD diagnosis include the presence of obsessions, compulsions, or both; these must be time-consuming and cause distress; they should not be due to physiological effects of a substance or another medical condition; and the anxiety should not be better explained by another mental disorder.

  • What are the common treatments for OCD?

    -Treatment for OCD usually involves psychotherapy, medications, or both. Cognitive behavior therapy, specifically exposure and response therapy, and selective serotonin uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are effective treatments.

Outlines
00:00
🔄 Understanding Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

This paragraph introduces the concept of double-checking as a common human behavior and distinguishes it from the obsessive tendencies that may indicate OCD. It explains that compulsive rituals, such as repeatedly checking if appliances are off before leaving home, can be signs of OCD. The paragraph defines OCD as an anxiety disorder characterized by obsessions (unwanted, intrusive thoughts) and compulsions (actions performed to reduce anxiety). It highlights the impact of OCD on daily life, noting its prevalence, onset age, and examples of affected individuals, including celebrities. The paragraph also clarifies that while the term 'obsessive-compulsive' includes both elements, a diagnosis can be made with just obsessions or compulsions, and most patients experience both.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Double-check
Double-checking is a common behavior where individuals verify something twice to ensure it is done correctly. In the context of the video, it is used to illustrate the difference between normal caution and obsessive behavior. The script mentions checking things like the garage door, front door, and gas stove multiple times as examples of escalating from normal to obsessive checking.
💡Obsession
An obsession, as defined in the script, is a recurrent and intrusive thought that is unwanted and difficult to dismiss. It is a key element of OCD, causing anxiety and typically leading to compulsive behaviors. The script uses the example of a thought like 'my house is unsafe' to explain how obsessions can drive compulsive actions.
💡Compulsion
A compulsion, according to the video, is an action performed in response to an obsession in an attempt to reduce anxiety. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts that a person with OCD feels driven to perform. The script describes rituals such as checking if the stove is off and cleaning it before leaving the house as examples of compulsions.
💡Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
OCD is a specific type of anxiety disorder characterized by obsessions, compulsions, or both. The video emphasizes that OCD significantly impacts daily life and affects around 3% of the population. It is a central theme of the video, with various examples and explanations provided to illustrate its effects and manifestations.
💡Anxiety
Anxiety, in the context of the video, is an emotional state characterized by feelings of worry, fear, or unease, often triggered by obsessions in individuals with OCD. The script explains that unwanted thoughts lead to anxiety, which in turn leads to compulsive behaviors aimed at reducing this anxiety.
💡Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-V)
The DSM-V is a publication of the American Psychiatric Association that provides a common language and standard criteria for the classification of mental disorders. The script refers to it as the authoritative source for the specific diagnostic criteria required for a diagnosis of OCD, emphasizing its importance in the identification and treatment of the disorder.
💡Genetic factors
Genetic factors, as mentioned in the script, are considered to play a role in the development of OCD. The video suggests that OCD may run in families and that identical twins are more often affected than non-identical twins, indicating a potential hereditary component to the disorder.
💡Environmental factors
Environmental factors are suggested in the video as contributing to the development of OCD alongside genetic factors. While the exact mechanisms are not detailed, the script implies that a combination of genetics and environmental influences may lead to the onset of the disorder.
💡Serotonin neurotransmission
Serotonin neurotransmission refers to the process by which the neurotransmitter serotonin is transmitted in the brain. The script suggests that abnormalities in this process may play a key role in OCD, although the precise mechanism is not fully understood.
💡Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a type of psychotherapy that helps patients understand and change thought patterns that lead to harmful actions or feelings. The video highlights exposure and response therapy, a specific technique within CBT, as an effective treatment for OCD, where patients are gradually exposed to anxiety-provoking situations without performing compulsions.
💡Selective Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
SSRIs are a class of medications that are used to treat depression and anxiety disorders by increasing the extracellular levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter. The script mentions SSRIs as an effective drug treatment for OCD, noting their role in addressing the serotonin imbalances thought to be linked to the disorder.
Highlights

Double-checking common items like garage doors and stoves can be a sign of potential obsessive tendencies.

Obsessive tendencies can escalate to compulsions, such as performing rituals with appliances before leaving home.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterized by recurrent and intrusive thoughts leading to compulsive actions.

OCD affects approximately 3% of the population and can manifest in childhood or adolescence.

Celebrities like David Beckham and Howie Mandel are known to suffer from OCD.

A diagnosis of OCD does not require both obsessions and compulsions; individuals may have one or the other.

Common compulsions include excessive cleaning and checking behaviors due to obsessions with germs or safety.

Repeating actions or phrases is a compulsion that can stem from the fear that something bad will happen if not performed.

Patients with OCD may feel compelled to order and arrange things to alleviate anxiety caused by disorder.

Mental rituals are used to neutralize intrusive thoughts in individuals with OCD.

The DSM-V provides specific diagnostic criteria for OCD, including the presence of obsessions, compulsions, or both.

OCD obsessions and compulsions must be time-consuming and cause significant distress in social and work life.

OCD symptoms must not be attributed to physiological effects of substances or other medical conditions.

The anxiety associated with OCD should not be better explained by another mental disorder.

OCD is believed to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

Abnormalities in serotonin neurotransmission in the brain are thought to play a key role in OCD.

Treatment for OCD often involves cognitive behavior therapy and medication, specifically exposure and response therapy and SSRIs.

With proper treatment, individuals with OCD can return to normal daily life and activities.

Transcripts

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Obsessive CompulsiveAnxiety DisorderMental HealthOCD SymptomsRitualsCompulsionsCognitive TherapySSRI MedicationCelebrity StoriesDSM-V Criteria