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What is it?OCD or obsessive-compulsive disorder is part of a group of mental illnesses called obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. It used to be grouped with anxiety disorders and it still is closely linked with anxiety disorders. OCD is made up of two parts: obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are thoughts that people can't control. Obsessions often come up on their own and cause a lot of distress. Obsessions can be very difficult because they can shock people who experience them. For example, people may experience thoughts of harming someone else or images of a horrific accident. It's important to remember that people don't act out their obsessions—obsessions are only thoughts. Compulsions are actions individuals use to manage obsessions. These actions are used as a way to reduce anxiety brought on by obsessions, often with the intention of neutralizing or negating a threat (e.g. "If I do x, y won't happen" or "I need to do x just in case"). Compulsions can be visible to others, such as spending a lot of time washing your hands or putting items in a specific order. Compulsions can also be invisible, such as repeating a word or phrase to yourself or counting items in your mind. Compulsions may bring some temporary relief of the anxiety or distress around obsessions, but compulsions aren't pleasurable and don't stop obsessions from coming back. Most people who experience OCD understand that obsessions probably aren't true and that compulsions probably aren't based in reality. However, they still can't control obsessions or compulsions. Obsessions and compulsions take a long time—at least an hour a day. OCD is a spectrum like other mental illnesses. Some people experience mild or moderate symptoms and can go about their usual lives, while others may experience significant disruptions to their lives and may need a lot of support. People with OCD may also experience periods of time where OCD symptoms are more serious or hard to control and periods of time with few or no symptoms. Obsessions and compulsions can worsen as a result of different triggers. Triggers may be things that are related to obsessions (like being around sick people when you have obsessions around sickness or germs) or situations that aren't related to obsessions, such as high-stress events, conflict, grief, or poor sleep. Top What does OCD look like?Common obsessions include:
Common compulsions include:
Many people worry about germs if a co-worker is sick, prefer items on their desk to be arranged in a specific way, or think about a mistake they’ve made. However, these are usually realistic thoughts and realistic actions that last for a reasonable period of time. People without OCD can usually shake the thought off or recognize the thought they are having does not mean anything about them. OCD, on the other hand, is about thoughts and behaviours that are excessive and unrealistic that cannot be shaken off. OCD can cause people to avoid other people, places, or things that they link to obsessions or compulsions. It can make it really hard for people to go about their daily life. Top Who does it affect?About 1-2% of people experience OCD at some point in their life. OCD is usually diagnosed when people are teens or young adults, around the age of 20, but it can start in childhood. People who experience "taboo" forms of OCD (such as obsessions around violence or sexuality) may not be diagnosed until they are older as a result of shame or embarrassment. OCD tends to run in families, though genetics aren't the only cause. People who are diagnosed with OCD are more likely to experience an anxiety disorder like panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, or a phobia at some point in their lives. OCD can also go along with depression, skin picking/hair pulling, and hoarding disorder. About a third of people with OCD are also diagnosed with a tic disorder in their lifetime. Tics are unusual and recurring movements or sounds that people make that they can't control. Researchers have seen children very suddenly experience symptoms of OCD or very suddenly experience worsening symptoms after an infection of a bacteria called streptococcus or strep. This is called PANDAS (pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections). It's not clear exactly how the relationship between OCD and strep infections work, so it's best to talk to your doctor if you have concerns about PANDAS. Top Could I have OCD?
If you think that you or someone else might have OCD, it's best to talk to a doctor or mental health professional. Top What can I do about it?Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a very treatable illness. Without treatment, OCD can last a long time, so it’s important to seek help. The following are common treatments for OCD: Psychotherapy—The most common treatment is a psychotherapy called cognitive-behavioural therapy or CBT. CBT helps you understand your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, teaches you skills to help you understand and challenge obsessions and compulsions, and helps you cope with anxiety in healthier ways. Exposure and response prevention (ERP) helps you systematically and safely confront a feared situation without using compulsions with the goal of challenging untrue beliefs around obsessions. It may be included in CBT or other psychotherapies, or you may use ERP on its own. Medication—Antidepressant medications may help treat OCD, usually alongside psychotherapy. A group of antidepressants called SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are the most common medications for OCD. Self-management—Self-management strategies are things you do at home to take care of yourself. Self-management includes learning about OCD and how it affects you, practicing skills you learn in treatment, taking care of yourself as well as you can, and connecting with friends, family, or other important people in your support network. Top Where do I go from here?A good first step is talking to your doctor. They can help you find a mental health professional, if needed. Other helpful resources include: Anxiety CanadaVisit www.anxietycanada.com for information about OCD and anxiety disorders, My Anxiety Map and other self-management tools, the Mindshift CBT app, and a help finder to find service providers across Canada. BC Partners for Mental Health and Substance Use InformationVisit www.heretohelp.bc.ca for the Managing a Mental Illness series of info sheets, activities, workbooks, and personal stories about OCD and other mental health problems. You'll find tips and self-tests to help you understand mental health problems. International OCD FoundationVisit iocdf.org for the US-based International OCD Foundation, which helps people affected by obsessive-compulsive disorder and related disorders like hoarding disorder and body dysmorphic disorder. Find information, join virtual events, and learn more about the Anxiety in the Classroom resource for educators, students, and parents. HealthLinkBCCall 811 or visit www.healthlinkbc.ca to access free, non-emergency health information for anyone in your family, including mental health information. Through 811, you can also speak to a registered nurse about symptoms you're worried about, or talk with a pharmacist about medication questions. About the authorThe Canadian Mental Health Association promotes the mental health of all and supports the resilience and recovery of people experiencing a mental illness through public education, community-based research, advocacy, and direct services. Visit www.cmha.bc.ca. © 2021 | Back to top | More info sheetsWhich treatment teaches the person with OCD that no harm will result if they do not perform the ritual?Exposure and Response Prevention
This is often referred to as the gold-standard behavioral therapy approach for OCD. This treatment, which is well supported by research, involves exposing the patient to triggers that cause their anxiety and teaching them to no longer respond to the exposure with rituals or compulsions.
Which treatment is most effective for obsessive compulsive disorder?More specifically, the most effective treatments are a type of CBT called Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), which has the strongest evidence supporting its use in the treatment of OCD, and/or a class of medications called serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SRIs.
What type of therapy is used for obsessive compulsive disorder?Psychotherapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a type of psychotherapy, is effective for many people with OCD .
Why is CBT the best therapy for OCD?CBT will encourage the sufferer not to ask for reassurance, and see what happens to their obsessional belief. OCD makes a person more likely to spot 'risky' situations and to notice intrusive thoughts.
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