Obsessive-compulsive disorder ( OCD ) is a psychiatric disorder more specifically, it is an anxiety disorder . Compulsions are behaviors that help reduce the anxiety surrounding the obsessions. If you have obsessive-compulsive disorder, ritualistic behaviors may literally take over your life. People with OCD are plagued by recurring and distressing thoughts, fears or images (obsessions) that they cannot control. The compulsive rituals are performed in an attempt to prevent the obsessive thoughts or make them go away. Obsessive Compulsive Foundation reports that 1 in 50 adults in the United States currently experiences OCD, and twice as many have experienced it at some point in their lives. Most people with OCD have both obsessions and compulsions, but a minority have obsessions alone (about 20 percent) or compulsions alone (about 10 percent). Compulsions generally accompany obsessions as a result of the brain's attempt to dismiss or neutralize the obsessions.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an illness that causes people to have unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and to repeat certain behaviors (compulsions) over and over again. The anxiety (nervousness) produced by these thoughts leads to an urgent need to perform certain rituals or routines (compulsions). These thoughts or images keep coming back despite your efforts to ignore them. You may strive to hide OCD from friends and co-workers for fear of being labeled "crazy." This OCD cycle can progress to the point of taking up hours of the person's day and significantly interfering with normal activities. People with OCD may be aware that their obsessions and compulsions are senseless or unrealistic, but they cannot stop themselves. And it can affect both adults and children. Because the obsessions and compulsions can be so hard to disregard, OCD can become disabling and chronic. But the good news is that treatment can help bring obsessive-compulsive disorder under control.

Causes of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

The common Causes of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder :

The cause of OCD is not known.
Some researchers believe OCD is a result of changes in your body's own natural chemistry
Some researchers believe that OCD stems from behavior habits that you learn over time.
Some studies show that pregnant women and new mothers are at increased risk, but it's not clear why. In these cases, OCD symptoms center mainly on thoughts of harming the baby.
Having parents or other family members with the disorder can increase your risk of developing OCD. However, researchers haven't identified any genes responsible for obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Some Symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder :

Obsessions or compulsions that cause significant distress or interfere with everyday life.
Obsessions or compulsions are not due to medical illness or drug use.
Intense fear of making mistakes or behaving inappropriately.
Obsession with the ordering, arrangement or symmetry of objects.

Treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Tricyclic antidepressants, such as Anafranil, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants, such as Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft may be helpful in treating OCD.
The goal of cognitive-behavior therapy is to teach people with OCD to confront their fears and reduce anxiety without performing the ritual behaviors. It also focuses on reducing the exaggerated or catastrophic thinking that often occurs in people with OCD.

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