Health Conditions

Obsessions are recurrent thoughts, impulses, or images that provoke anxiety in the affected person; obsessions cannot be ignored or suppressed. Compulsions are the ritualistic behavior that is designed to reduce the anxiety that obsessions produce. Persons suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) realize that the obsessions and compulsions are excessive or unreasonable. However, OCD sufferers are forced to perform these rituals because it provides temporary relief from the anxiety and unease caused by the obsession.

The most common obsessions involve germs and contamination, order and neatness, and religious or sexual thoughts. Common compulsions include frequently washing hands, constantly checking zippers and buttons on clothing, repeatedly asking the same question, and hoarding objects. OCD is diagnosed when such activities consume at least an hour a day and when sufferers are compelled to perform rituals in order to feel relief from the intense feelings of discomfort and unease resulting from their obsession. In addition, the activities appear to be senseless, are very distressing, and interfere with daily life.

OCD affects men and women equally though men tend to develop OCD earlier in life. OCD afflicts between 2% and 3% of the worldwide population. It can appear in childhood, adolescence, or adulthood, but on average it first shows up in the teens or early adulthood. The course and severity of OCD are highly variable and unpredictable, with some persons only mildly or irregularly suffering and others suffering severely and constantly throughout life. There is some evidence that OCD might run in families.

OCD can lead to clinical depression over time. Some OCD patients may avoid situations in which they might have to confront their obsessions, or they may try to use alcohol or drugs to escape their compulsion. Severe OCD can keep someone from holding down a job or from carrying out normal responsibilities at home.

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Note: The above information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional. It is not intended to diagnose a health condition, but it can be used as a guide to help you decide if you should seek professional treatment or to help you learn more about your condition once it has been diagnosed.