Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Types and Treatment

Obsessive compulsive disorder is said to affect 2.3% of the population who are between the ages of eighteen and fifty-four. In the United States alone, 3.3 million people suffer from this mental illness. Statistics have shown that both men and women are equally affected by obsessive compulsive disorder. Children as young as six years old could show signs of OCD, however, diagnosis at this age could be difficult. In most cases, signs of OCD become definite during adolescence into early adulthood. Usually stress, illnesses and fatigue can lead this disorder and its symptoms to worsen. Throughout a person’s life, OCD could become mild, to the point where it is almost nonexistent, or it could completely take over their lives. It is incredibly important to seek help and continue treatment that will help maintain OCD at a healthy level. Failing to do so can certainly lead to the inability to function properly in one’s life (Understanding Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). This paper will discuss obsessive compulsive disorder in detail. It will compare the differences between obsessions versus compulsions, possible causes of OCD that have been discovered to date, the different types of OCD, and finally, various treatment options.

What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?

Obsessive compulsive disorder is a mental illness which affects a person’s thoughts and actions. It is categorized as an anxiety disorder. People with obsessive compulsive disorder are known to have reoccurring thoughts and/or engage in the same behaviors multiple times throughout the day which they feel compelled to do. Sometimes, obsessions become disturbing images or uncontrollable impulses. A person with this disorder most often tries to get rid of obsessive thoughts by pe...

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...th OCD could learn to control their obsessions and compulsions with the help of a professional, friends and family, and, a bit more challenging, by themselves (Robinson, Segal & Smith, 2014).

Works Cited

Goodman, W. (2006). “What Is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?”. Psych Central. Retrieved May 8, 2014 from http://psychcentral.com/lib/what-is-obsessive-compulsive-disorder/00076

Lawrence, R., Melinda, S., & Jeanne, S. (n.d.). “Obsessive Compulsive Disorder”. Help Guide. Retrieved May 8, 2014 from http://www.helpguide.org/mental/obsessive_compulsive_disorder_ocd.htm

Nichols, H. (2010, February 8). “What Is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?” Medical News Today. Retrieved May 8, 2014 from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/178508.php

“Understanding Compulsive Disorder”. (n.d.). UOCD. Retrieved May 8, 2014 from http://understanding_ocd.tripod.com/index.html