Anxiety Disorders Clinic

McMaster University Medical Center - HHS

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

What exactly is "Obsessive Compulsive Disorder"?

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a condition characterized by persistent thoughts, images or impulses, known as "obsessions," that intrude into a person's mind and persist or get stuck.  These thoughts cause a lot of anxiety and distress for the person experiencing them.  As a result of these thoughts, the individual might engage in repetitive behaviours, known as "compulsions," to try and reduce their anxiety and distress caused by the obsessions.  For example a person may be constantly concerned about contact with dirt and contamination (obsession) and as a result; the individual will frequently wash their hands (compulsion).  People with obsessive compulsive disorder often realize that these thoughts and behaviours are excessive and unreasonable, but they have a very hard time ignoring or resisting them.  Some common obsessions are: fears of contamination, excessive doubting (ex. "Did I turn the stove off?"), intrusive violent or sexual images or impulses and the need for rigid order and routine.  Some common compulsions are: washing and cleaning routines, repeating rituals (counting, praying), excessive checking (doors, locks, appliances), ordering, straightening and tidying routines and doing things over and over until they feel "just right."  In order to be classified as obsessive compulsive disorder, these obsessions and compulsions must take up a good portion of the person's time (at least an hour a day) and cause problems and interference in their daily functioning. 

What kinds of symptoms or problems go along with OCD?
 

Many areas of the person's life (work, personal, and social responsibilities) can be affected.  A person suffering from OCD may:

Does OCD occur with other mental conditions?

It is not uncommon for OCD to occur with several other emotional disorders.  The most common ones are mood disorders (namely depression) and other anxiety disorders (panic disorder, social phobia and specific phobias).  It is also quite common for OCD to occur with Tourette's Syndrome, and it is not uncommon for a person with OCD to also experience some of these "tics" (involuntary vocalizations or movements).

How common is OCD?

OCD is not as common as other anxiety disorders, but is still quite prevalent.  In a recent survey conducted in the United States examining mental disorders in the community, researchers found that 1% (1 in 100) of all people suffered from OCD in the past year.

How is OCD treated?

There are two main options for treating OCD: medication and cognitive behavioural therapy.  Many medications exist and have been shown to be very effective in the treatment of OCD.  Among the ones most commonly used are the antidepressants (SSRIs and clomipramine), that work on the serotonin system.  Both medications and cognitive behavioural therapy have advantages and disadvantages, which should be discussed with your doctor.  Cognitive behavioural therapy is also an effective treatment using techniques of exposure and response prevention.

How can you get treatment for OCD?

Treatment is often started by a family doctor but may involve a referral to a psychiatrist, psychologist or specialized anxiety disorders clinic.  If you think you may be suffering from OCD, speak to your family doctor/general practitioner about receiving a formal assessment.

What's new in OCD treatment?

In addition there are new and novel treatments for OCD being tested.  At the Anxiety Disorders Clinic at the McMaster University Medical Center we are currently running several studies examining the use of new medication strategies in the treatment of OCD.  For further information on these studies or to see if you may be eligible to participate, CLICK HERE 

For more information about the clinic please visit our homepage

www.macanxiety.com