Obsession Compulsion Disorder

Obsession Compulsion Disorder, (OCD) is the fourth most common psychiatric diagnosis affecting about one out of forty people in the United States (Hyman and Pedrick, 2005). Not surprising most people in one way shape or form has some degree of OCD. Sixty five percent of people with OCD develop the disorder before the age of thirty-five and less than 15 percent develop it after the age of thirty-five (Hyman and Pedrick, 2005). Women have a slightly higher chance to be diagnosed with OCD where as boys out number girls by about two to one. Symptoms of OCD usually begin gradually and continue to worsen through out a person’s life. However some people have reported to have a sudden onset of symptoms (Hyman and Pedrick, 2005).

OCD can be very crippling to a person’s life according to what degree they have it. There are among three different degrees of OCD that can cause its victims emotional and functional impairment (Sebastian, 1993). They are the following; episodic, continuous, and deteriorative. Episodic is a much lesser than the other two degrees. Most people at the level of episodic can function well in life with very little dysfunction and in a completely normal manner. Continuous OCD can hinder one’s life in every aspect such as work, family and relationships. In retrospect people at the level of continuous can still function at home and at work. The worse degree of OCD that can cripple a person’s life is deteriorative. This level of OCD progressively worsens through out one’s life and can completely incapacitate their victims socially and on the job (Sebastian, 1993).

There are five basic types of OCD. A person can be all or one specific type and can change types through out their life (Hyman and Pedrick, 2005). Checkers feel a strong need to check and re-check appliances in their home to insure that they are off. They may also lock the door three or four times to ensure that it is in deed locked. Washers and cleaners have very serious fears about the possibility of contamination by dirt, germs, and viruses. They live with the fear that they may contaminate themselves or others. In response to these fears they will excessively wash there hands multiple times per hour and shower up to three to four times per day (Hyman and Pedrick, 2005). Orders and repeaters feel they must arrange certain items in a particular way. They might repeat certain actions over and over, such as opening and closing the refrigerator door three or four times. These people demand that their stuff not be touched, and in the event something was to be touched and moved out of place, the person can become very angry and distraught (Hyman and Pedrick, 2005). Other actions a person will do while suffering with this particular and most unique type of OCD is they will cross over a room threshold repeatedly, count or repeat words to themselves over and over, and rearrange items multiple times until it feels just “perfect.” Pure obsessionals experience unwanted horrific and violent thoughts that will crowd there minds. Such thoughts will be of acting upon a sexual impulse towards others in a way that is repulsive to them and clearly wrong. They often ask for reassurance that they are not going to harm themselves or others (Hyman and Pedrick, 2005). Lastly, people diagnosed with hoarders type of OCD collect insignificant items and have severe difficulty in throwing them away. They do this because of the fear that may need that particular object in the future. Strong attachment and over valuing of objects is most likely the reason for their actions (Hyman and Pedrick, 2005).

People who suffer with OCD realize to a certain degree how it is hindering their lives. Studies show that adults with OCD over a period of years find themselves socially isolated and had no sexual relationships at all and if married, experience marriage problems (Sebastian, 1993). Adults with OCD have at some point recognized that the obsessions or compulsions are excessive or unreasonable (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Disorders, DSM-IV-TR, 2000). Children who spend their time performing rituals to feed the compulsions rather than spending time playing with their friends will most likely develop social problems (Sebastian, 1993). If the persons family does not properly know how to deal with their loved ones problem correctly, it can lead to further worsening the OCD. The lack of support and negative criticism can cause increased stress, anxiety, and depression for the individual (Sebastian, 1993). Most of this begins with parents who do not understand why their children cannot just stop that odd behavior. A common problem with families is that