Causes Of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - Harassed by Unwanted Thoughts?

Obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD, is a very real problem today. Many people are seeking OCD treatments, and are wondering what the causes of OCD are. But in order to truly understand this disease, you must first know what obsessive compulsive disorder is.

What is OCD

Obsessive compulsive disorder is considered a psychiatric problem. The person who suffers from it has overwhelmingly intrusive thoughts, or obsessions, accompanied by compulsions to perform certain tasks and rituals, in order to drown out the thoughts. For example, common obsessive compulsive disorder symptoms are excessive cleaning, washing, and showering. The person exhibiting this has thoughts of being dirty or sick that overwhelm them, and the washing is supposed to help cleanse the thoughts.

How Common is OCD?

Determining the prevalence of OCD is difficult. It is believed that between one and three percent of people have OCD, but there are fewer patients that actually seek treatment. This means that the clinically recognized cases are less than this.

OCD Versus OCPD

There are actually two different conditions often combined into one: obsessive compulsive disorder, and obsessive compulsive personality disorder. The symptoms of the two problems are the same, but the person who suffers from OCPD does not realize they have a problem, while OCD patients usually do. The OCPD patient believes their obsessions are justified, and will often not be able to be convinced that they are sick. They enjoy their obsessions, while OCD patients do not.

Other Illnesses That Come With OCD

Having OCD often leads to a variety of other psychological illnesses. OCD patients are prone to depression, including severe cases of depression that stop them from going about their normal lives. Anxiety attacks, or panic attacks, are also related to OCD. Tourette syndrome, picking at the skin, drug addiction, and body dysmorphic disorder are all common problems of the OCD patient.

Causes of OCD

So, what are the causes of OCD? There are two prevailing theories about the causes of obsessive compulsive disorder. The first is that the problem is completely psychiatric. The person who exhibits OCD behavior feels responsible and guilty for their obsessive thoughts, leading to the behaviors. The other belief is that there is a medical reason for the problem. These doctors and scientists believe that the brain has abnormalities that cause the OCD behaviors. This abnormality usually rests in serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter. When this neurotransmitter does not fire correctly, neurological problems develop.

Continue to Risk factors and OCD medication

Seven Symptoms That You Are Getting Into A Depression
You are Unable to Recognize Signs of Anxiety? Try Anxiety Screening Tests!
Try Psychotherapy Before Your Mild Depression Gets Serious!
Your Nervous Child Might Be Combating Anxiety Disorder on His Own!
Clinical Depression Could Turn Your Healthy Life Into A Nightmare!
Unable to Enjoy Life? Could it be Dysthymia?
Postpartum Depression - No Case of Baby Blues?
Recognizing Common Types of Phobias