Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a potentially disabling condition that can persist throughout a person's life. An individual who suffers from OCD becomes trapped in a pattern of repetitive thoughts and behaviors that are irrational and upsetting but extremely difficult to overcome. OCD occurs in a spectrum from mild to severe, but if a severe case goes untreated, it can destroy a person's ability to function at work, school, or even in the home. In OCD, it is as though the brain gets stuck on a particular thought or urge and just can't let go. My research will focus on three main aspects of Obsessive-compulsive disorder: 1) What causes it, 2) What are the symptoms, and 3) What are the treatments that can curb its sometimes debilitating effects.

OCD can start at any time from preschool age to adulthood. One third to one half of adults with OCD report that it started during childhood. Unfortunately, OCD often goes unrecognized. On average, people with OCD see three to four doctors and spend over 9 years seeking treatment before they receive a correct diagnosis. Studies have also found that it takes an average of 17 years from the time OCD begins for people to obtain appropriate treatment. OCD tends to be under diagnosed and under treated for a number of reasons. People with the disorder may be secretive about their symptoms or lack insight about their illness. Many healthcare providers are not familiar with the symptoms or are not trained in providing the appropriate treatments. Some people may not have access to treatment resources. This is unfortunate since earlier diagnoses and proper treatment, including finding the right medications, can help people avoid the suffering associated with OCD the suffering associated with OCD and lessen the risk of developing other problems, such as depression or marital and work problems.

Is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Inherited? No specific genes for OCD have yet been identified, but research suggests that genes do play a role in the development of the disorder in some cases. Childhood onset OCD tends to run in families (sometimes associated with tic disorders). When a parent has OCD, there is a slightly increased risk that a child will develop OCD, although the risk is still low. When OCD runs in families, it is the general nature of OCD that seems to be inherited, not specific symptoms. Thus a child may have checking rituals, while his mother washes compulsively. According to an article from BBC News "It is believed that OCD is linked to low levels of serotonin in the brain and that it may run in families." This finding is based on a study in which researchers from the US National Institute of Mental Health were trying to find more potential treatments for the illness. In this research, DNA from 170 people, including 30 each with OCD, eating disorders and seasonal affective disorder plus 80 healthy people, was analyzed.

What causes OCD? There is no single, proven cause of the disorder. Research suggests that it involves problems in communication between the front part of the brain and its deeper structures. These brain structures are what are responsible for using serotonin. Drugs that increase the brain concentration of serotonin often help improve the symptoms of OCD. Pictures of the brain at work also show that the brain circuits involved in OCD return toward normal in those who improve after taking a serotonin medication or receiving cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Although it seems clear that reduced levels of serotonin play a role in OCD, there is no laboratory test for OCD. Rather, the diagnosis is made based on an assessment of the person's symptoms. When OCD sometimes starts suddenly in childhood in association with strep throat, an autoimmune mechanism may be involved, and treatment with an antibiotic may prove helpful.

What are the symptoms of OCD? They include obsessions, which are recurring, unwanted thoughts, ideas, and impulses that interrupt normal thinking and cause anxiety or fear. The thoughts may be sexual or violent or create a concern of illness. Examples include: Persistent fear of harm to yourself or a loved one, an excessive need to do things perfectly or correctly, and a fear of contamination. OCD symptoms also include compulsions, which are behaviors or rituals that are repeated intentionally to try to control the obsessions. Some people have rituals that are rigid and structured, while others have very