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 SectionsWhat 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.
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- 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.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
OCD Symptoms and Diagnosis
The signs and symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder vary among patients. Intense, impulsive thoughts, such as the fear of harming others, the need for symmetry, and incessant doubt, are symptoms of obsession. Examples of compulsive symptoms are constant counting (out loud or to oneself) during everyday activities, continually washing hands or showering, and repeatedly checking on the presence, quality, or condition of something. In this section, you’ll learn more about symptoms and how a psychologist or psychiatrist uses them to make a diagnosis.
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- There are no lab tests that can be conducted to diagnose obsessive-compulsive disorder. As a result, most of the diagnostic information you encounter will tell you that an evaluation of the symptoms described by the patient or observed by a doctor is the primary way to determine whether the subject is dealing with a case of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
- According to the Merck Manual, diagnoses of OCD are made based on recommendations in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
- As a parent, diagnosing obsessive-compulsive disorder in a child can be difficult. Children may attempt to hide their behavior and may have difficulty communicating their thoughts and experiences. The Massachusetts General Hospital School Psychiatry Program and MADI Resource Center has a list of behaviors, at home and at school, that can be indicative of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
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For symptoms …
Revolution Health
explains the types of symptoms a patient with OCD would experience in a list format that’s especially useful for quick reference. Symptoms are broken down into obsessions and compulsions.
MedicineNet
has a description of OCD’s symptoms that takes a more descriptive approach than the links provided by Revolution Health.
For an overview of diagnosis …
The MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia
has a short entry on the procedures undertaken by psychologists and psychiatrists to diagnose obsessive-compulsive disorder.
For the Y-BOCS …
BrainPhysics
introduces the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), a test that is used to determine the severity of one’s OCD symptoms and to monitor progress of the condition. The questionnaire asks subjects to rate the severity of their obsessions and compulsions using a 0–4 scale and a series of circumstances. The results of the exam are then used to classify the subject’s case of OCD as being anywhere from subclinical to extreme.
Treatment for OCD
Obsessive-compulsive disorder can be a debilitating condition, but there are several treatment options available, including behavior therapy and medication.
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- A helpful way to learn of organizations that are actively conducting research into treatments for specific diseases is to add “research” to the name of the disease when using a search engine. The phrase “OCD research” turns up the Stanford University School of Medicine, for example, which has a valuable site dedicated to understanding OCD. Stanford’s site includes an interesting article on the history of OCD treatment.
- Government, hospital, and consumer health Web sites are good sources of unadorned information on health topics; information is presented concisely and straightforwardly. This makes for efficient reading but isn’t exactly the most engaging way to spend your time. It’s not uncommon for news magazines to cover health topics, and when they do, you can expect a much more interesting reading experience. For example, Time magazine’s August 2007 article, “When Worry Hijacks The Brain,” is all about OCD, with a special emphasis on treatment.
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For overviews …
The American Academy of Family Physicians
has a concise introduction to the medications and types of behavioral therapy used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Psych Central
gives more attention to the specific types of psychotherapy and medications than the previous site does. The highlight is the “Psychotherapy” section, which breaks down behavior and cognitive-behavioral therapies into systematic desensitization, flooding, saturation, and thought-stopping, and describes each.
The Anxiety Disorders Association of America
(ADAA) has a summary of OCD treatments with useful information on choosing a therapist. The ADAA recommends being selective and engaging potential therapists in conversation prior to seeking their services. To aid readers, the site provides a list of questions worth asking any prospective therapist.
For medication …
The Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation
has extensive information on medication for both adults and children. This electronic pamphlet, written by the Chairman of the OC Foundation Scientific Advisory Board (and also a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School), is set up in a question-and-answer format with the intention of covering all medication-related questions a reader might have. “What kinds of medications may help OCD?” and “Which drugs help OCD and how do we know these drugs are effective?” are two examples. There’s also a children’s version, which has the same Q&A format.
For clinical trials …
ClinicalTrials.gov
, a clearinghouse operated by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, provides a list of research clinical trials currently underway to test experimental treatments for bipolar disorder. To learn more about clinical trials, speak to your doctor and read the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s guide.
OCD Support
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is an isolating condition, but the support of others who have experienced its effects can be an important ally for coping. In this section we’ll show you some resources for finding support.
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- The Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation’s support group database, which you’ll find described below, is an extensive listing of OCD support groups. In the event that it doesn’t fit your specific needs, a standard Web search of “OCD support groups” plus the name of your town or city is the next best option for locating a group using the Web.
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For face-to-face support …
The Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation
has overview information on the types of support groups available for those with obsessive-compulsive disorder and their families. A useful supplement to this information is the OC Foundation’s support group search feature. Use it to find a face-to-face support group that fits your needs.
For online support...
DailyStrength
has an online support group for those with obsessive-compulsive disorder. After taking a few moments to create a free account, you’ll be able to customize your profile and interact with other members over public discussion forums, by sending private messages, or with virtual hugs.
To support a loved one with OCD …
Understanding Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
has an article with advice for the family and friends of a person with OCD on how best to provide support. It discusses what to do, what not to do, and how to handle rituals.
News and Research on OCD
Reading news and following research efforts is a good way to stay abreast of the latest findings and headlines pertaining to anxiety disorders. In this section, we’ll show you online resources that make staying current easy.
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- Nonprofit organizations and foundations often sponsor research efforts. At these groups’ Web sites you can learn about what research is being conducted and what past studies have found.
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For anxiety news …
Topix
is a news aggregator; it searches through hundreds of news outlets from around the world for stories related to keywords entered by users. This particular page contains a running list of news stories related to anxiety and anxiety disorders.
Medical News Today
has an anxiety and stress news page that lists the latest stories pertaining to either of these topics and any associated conditions, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder.
For OCD organizations …
The OCD Center of Los Angeles
has links to the Web sites maintained by some of the world’s foremost OCD nonprofit organizations, hospitals, clinics, and support groups.
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