OCD components
OCD has three main parts.
Obsessions – the thoughts that make you anxious
Emotions – the anxiety you feel
Compulsions – the things you do to reduce your anxiety
Obsessions
Thoughts
Pictures in your mind
Doubts
Ruminations
Perfectionism
Emotions
You feel tense, anxious, fearful, guilty, disgusted or depressed.
You feel better if you carry out your compulsive behaviour, or ritual - but it doesn’t last long.
Compulsions
Correcting obsessional thoughts - think of alternative ‘neutralising’ thoughts
Rituals
Checking
Avoidance
Hoarding
Reassurance
How common is OCD?
About 1 in 50 people in the UK suffer with OCD at some point in their life
Men and women equally
How bad can OCD get?
Varies a lot - work, relationships and family life are usually motr more productive and satisfying if you are not constantly having to cope with OCD.
Severe OCD can make it impossible to work regularly, to take part in family life – or even to get on with your family.
In particular, your family may become upset if you try to involve them in your rituals.
Gambling, eating and drinking compulsively
NOT related to OCD
These behaviours can be pleasurable. The compulsions in OCD never give pleasure – they are always felt as an unpleasant demand or burden.
Do people with OCD lose control?
Extremely rare
No greater risk of causing harm than any other member of the general public
What other conditions are similar to OCD?
BDD
Health anxiety
Trichotillomania
Tourette’s
ASD
When does OCD begin?
Many children have mild compulsions - organise their toys very precisely, avoid stepping on cracks in the pavement. Usually goes away as they grow older.
Adult OCD usually begins in the teens or early twenties. Symptoms can come and go with time, but sufferers often don’t seek help until they have had OCD for many years.
Outlook
OCD symptoms may improve or go away for a time, but they do often return. Some people will slowly get worse, while for others the symptoms get worse when they are stressed or depressed.
Treatment will usually help.
What causes OCD?
Genetics
Stress - brings on 2 out of 3 cases
Life changes
Brain changes - ? serotonin
Personality - people who are neat, meticulous, methodical - can slip into OCD
Ways of thinking - most people dismiss bad thoughts, if you think the thoughts are terrible more likely to look out for them coming back and therefore they are more likely to
Tx
Self help - remember it’s not your fault, expose yourself to the troubling thoughts, resist the compulsive behaviour, don’t use drugs and alcohol, support groups, self help books
CBT
ERP
CT
Antidepressants
