What Is OCD?

Home » Web Guides » Health » Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

In This Guide

Most Popular

OCD: Understanding and Coping with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Although the term “OCD” has evolved into a slang exaggeration of a person’s tendency toward perfectionism, in reality OCD is a serious psychological disorder with effects that can leave the sufferer crippled during routine activities. The Web hosts a large body of reliable information on the disorder from some of the country’s top nonprofits, hospitals, and professional societies; in this guide we’ll show you how to access it.

Expand All Guide Sections

What Is OCD?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a condition characterized by intense, unwanted, obsessive thoughts and compulsive rituals. Common examples of manifestations of OCD are obsessively fearing germs and compulsively washing hands until they become chapped and raw; obsessively worrying that a door will be left unlocked and compulsively checking the lock to ensure its security; and obsessively fearing that valuable items will be thrown away and compulsively hoarding goods. By introducing what behaviors constitute obsessive-compulsive disorder and by summarizing how it is defined, caused, and treated, the sites in this section provide the essential background for understanding OCD.

Dulcinea's Insight

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is categorized as an anxiety disorder—an umbrella term used to describe conditions defined by fear, nervousness, and anxiety. Understanding anxiety disorders in general can be helpful for understanding the fundamental issues faced by anyone with OCD. Learn more about anxiety disorders by using the resources in the findingDulcinea Mental Health Web Guide.

Dulcinea's Picks

The Mayo Clinic has a comprehensive introduction to obsessive-compulsive disorder that touches briefly upon its definition, causes, risk factors, complications, and more. The site also offers advice on when to seek medical attention, as there’s a difference between perfectionist behavior and OCD.

go to site »

The National Alliance on Mental Illness has an article on obsessive-compulsive disorder that begins with descriptions of the OCD behaviors exhibited by four specific individuals. This article does well to illustrate the differences between obsessions and compulsions, which is extremely helpful for understanding the disorder.

go to site »

eMedicine is a clinical reference designed for health-care professionals that should not be confused with the site’s portal for the public, eMedicineHealth. Instead of the usual overview/causes/symptoms/treatment/prevention outline seen on consumer health sites, here you’ll find information on OCD’s background, history, pathophysiology, frequency, mortality/morbidity, and more.

go to site »

KidsHealth has an article written for parents on how to determine if a child has obsessive-compulsive disorder. It covers many of the same concerns and issues as the sites above but tailors the information to parent readers.

go to site »