Informative Essay On Ocd

According to the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is the fourth most common neuropsychiatric illness in the United States (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Treatment, n.d.). OCD is a very complicated mental disorder. People with OCD may have very different symptoms or symptom combinations, but typically include obsessions and compulsions. The National Institute of Mental Health defines OCD as “a common, chronic and long-lasting disorder in which a person has uncontrollable, recurring thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions) that he or she feels the urge to repeat over and over (n.d.).” Today, there is no cure for OCD; however, there are many treatments available

There are treatments available for OCD patients to help cope. Before you can be treated, you have to be diagnosed. The Mayo Clinic diagnoses OCD in steps that may include a physical exam, lab tests, or a psychological evaluation. After you are diagnosed, there are a few different routes to take. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America believes that “untreated OCD can be detrimental to all aspects of life, so getting proper treatment is essential to taking control over the illness and gaining relief (OCD, n.d.).” The first treatment option is psychotherapy. Mayo Clinic’s practice of psychotherapy “involves gradually exposing you to a feared object or obsession, such as dirt, and having you learn healthy ways to cope with your anxiety (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2016).” This treatment option can be in individual sessions, as well as group or family sessions. Psychotherapy takes practice and a lot of work. If you can learn management skills for your obsessions and compulsions, it can help you enjoy a better

It is commonly used for people that are not helped by psychotherapy and medication. There are four possible treatments that have been proven to treat OCD by the International OCD Foundation. The first of these surgeries is referred to as anterior cingulotomy. The procedures involve “drilling into the skull and burning an area of the brain called the anterior cingulate cortex with a heated probe (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, n.d.).” This option has benefitted 50 percent of patients. The second psychosurgery is called anterior capsulotomy. It is similar to anterior cingulotomy, except doctors operate on the anterior limb of the internal capsule. This form of treatment helps 50-60 percent of OCD patients. The third type of psychosurgery is referred to as gamma knife. The skull is not opened in this surgery; instead, gamma rays are aimed at certain areas of the brain. When the gamma rays cross, energy is released and brain tissue is destroyed. This surgery is successful 60 percent of the