Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Have you ever experienced some unwanted and irrational thoughts coming to your mind and it happened repetitively, sometimes to the extend forcing yourself to do some routine or ritual to ease the anxiety?
These unpleasant experiences are what we called obsessive compulsive disorder.
Common Obsessions & Compulsions:
| Obsessions | Compulsions |
| Concerns about dirt & germs, among others | Washing, showering or cleaning |
| Concerns about harm | Checking |
| Intrusive, sexual or religious thoughts | Mental rituals or praying |
| Symmetry concerns | Ordering, straightening, repeating or counting |
| Hoarding concerns | Hoarding behaviour |
Causes of OCD:
- Family history
- Differences in the brain – low levels of chemical called serotonin
- Life events – bullied, abused, neglected, bereavement, childbirth
- Personality – neat, meticulous, anxious, strong sense of responsibility
Treatments for OCD:
- Talking therapy – Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- Medicine – a type of antidepressant called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
Article by,
Dr. Norizan Othman
MBBS (MMMC), MRCPsych (UK)
Specialty:
Psychiatry