Materiały źródłowe

• #1 OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder): Symptoms & Treatment

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9490-ocd-obsessive-compulsive-disorder

  Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition in which you have frequent unwanted thoughts that cause you to perform repetitive behaviors. Treatment for OCD usually involves psychotherapy and medication. The sooner OCD is diagnosed and treated, the better the outlook. […] OCD is usually a life-long (chronic) condition, but symptoms can come and go over time. […] The main symptoms of OCD are obsessions and compulsions that interfere with normal activities. For example, symptoms may often prevent you from getting to work on time. Or you may have trouble getting ready for bed in a reasonable amount of time. […] Symptoms of OCD may come and go, ease over time or worsen over time. […] In OCD, obsessions are unwanted, intrusive thoughts or mental images that cause intense anxiety. People with OCD can’t control these thoughts. Most people with OCD realize that these thoughts are illogical or irrational.

• #1 Symptoms – Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) – NHS

  https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/symptoms/

  Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) affects people differently, but usually causes a particular pattern of thoughts and behaviours. OCD has 3 main elements: obsessions where an unwanted, intrusive and often distressing thought, image or urge repeatedly enters your mind […] emotions the obsession causes a feeling of intense anxiety or distress […] compulsions repetitive behaviours or mental acts that a person with OCD feels driven to perform as a result of the anxiety and distress caused by the obsession. The compulsive behaviour temporarily relieves the anxiety, but the obsession and anxiety soon return, causing the cycle to begin again. Most people with OCD experience both obsessive thoughts and compulsions, but one may be less obvious than the other. If you have a persistent, unpleasant thought that dominates your thinking to the extent it interrupts other thoughts, you may have an obsession. These thoughts are classed as OCD if they cause you distress or have an impact on the quality of your life. Compulsions start as a way of trying to reduce or prevent anxiety caused by the obsessive thought, although in reality, this behaviour is either excessive or not realistically connected. Most people with OCD realise that such compulsive behaviour is irrational and makes no logical sense, but they cannot stop acting on it and feel they need to do it „just in case”. OCD is unlikely to get better on its own, but treatment and support is available to help you manage your symptoms and have a better quality of life.

• #1 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

  https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd

  Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disorder marked by uncontrollable and recurring thoughts (obsessions), repetitive and excessive behaviors (compulsions), or both. OCD symptoms can begin any time but usually start between late childhood and young adulthood. […] OCD symptoms are often time-consuming and can cause significant distress or interfere with daily life. It is common for people with OCD also to have a diagnosed mood or anxiety disorder. Although there is no cure for OCD, available treatments can help people manage their symptoms, participate in day-to-day activities, and improve their quality of life. […] NIMH funds and conducts research to better understand who is at risk for developing OCD. This includes research into genetics, biology, temperament, and childhood trauma, as well as studies of OCD in children and adults. Were supporting research to improve existing treatments for OCD, including psychotherapy, medication, and brain stimulation therapy. Were also funding research investigating new treatments, particularly for people with treatment-resistant OCD whose symptoms havent improved after trying multiple treatment options.

• #1 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder – familydoctor.org

  https://familydoctor.org/condition/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/

  Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is mental health disorder, such as anxiety disorder or depression. It causes unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions). […] Most people with OCD know that their obsessions and compulsions make no sense. Yet, they can’t ignore or stop them. […] For many years, OCD was thought to be rare. Some recent studies show that it is more common than once thought. OCD affects men and women equally. […] The following are some common obsessions: Fear of dirt or germs, Disgust with bodily waste or fluids, Concern with order, symmetry (balance), and exactness, Worry that a task has been done poorly, even when the person knows this is not true, Fear of thinking evil or sinful thoughts, Thinking about certain sounds, images, words, or numbers all the time, Need for constant reassurance, Fear of harming a family member or friend.

• #1 Obsessive–compulsive disorder – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obsessive%E2%80%93compulsive_disorder

  Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental disorder in which an individual has intrusive thoughts (an obsession) and feels the need to perform certain routines (compulsions) repeatedly to relieve the distress caused by the obsession, to the extent where it impairs general function. […] Obsessions are persistent unwanted thoughts, mental images, or urges that generate feelings of anxiety, disgust, or discomfort. […] Compulsions are repeated actions or routines that occur in response to obsessions to achieve a relief from anxiety. […] Compulsions occur often and typically take up at least one hour per day, impairing one’s quality of life. […] Compulsions cause relief in the moment, but cause obsessions to grow over time due to the repeated reward-seeking behavior of completing the ritual for relief.

• #1 About International OCD Foundation | All There Is To Know About OCD

  https://iocdf.org/about-ocd/

  In the context of OCD, obsessions are time-consuming and get in the way of important activities the person values. […] Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or thoughts that a person uses to neutralize or counteract the obsession — essentially to try and make their obsessions go away. People with OCD realize this is only a temporary solution, but without a better way to cope, they rely on compulsions nonetheless. Compulsions can also include avoiding situations that trigger obsessions. They are time-consuming and get in the way of important activities the person values. […] The obsessions and compulsions of OCD are ego-dystonic, as people with OCD are distressed by the content of their intrusive thoughts and would truly prefer not to do the compulsive behaviors or have the compulsive thoughts that keep their distress at bay for a moment.

• #1 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: When Unwanted Thoughts or Repetitive Behaviors Take Over – National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)Lock

  https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-when-unwanted-thoughts-or-repetitive-behaviors-take-over

  Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a long-lasting disorder in which a person experiences uncontrollable and recurring thoughts (obsessions), engages in repetitive behaviors (compulsions), or both. People with OCD have time-consuming symptoms that can cause significant distress or interfere with daily life. However, treatment is available to help people manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life. […] People with OCD may have obsessions, compulsions, or both. Obsessions are repeated thoughts, urges, or mental images that are intrusive, unwanted, and make most people anxious. […] Compulsions are repetitive behaviors a person feels the urge to do, often in response to an obsession. […] OCD symptoms may begin anytime but usually start between late childhood and young adulthood. Most people with OCD are diagnosed as young adults. […] The symptoms of OCD may start slowly and can go away for a while or worsen as time passes. During times of stress, the symptoms often get worse. A person’s obsessions and compulsions also may change over time. […] If left untreated, OCD symptoms can become severe and interfere with daily life.

• #1

  https://www.aurorahealthcare.org/services/behavioral-health-addiction/obsessive-compulsive-disorder

  Common examples of compulsive behavior: Excessive checking of things like door locks, stoves, water faucets or light switches, repeatedly making lists, counting, arranging or aligning things, keeping or hoarding objects and having a strong emotional attachment to the items as well as difficulty organizing and discarding, repeating routine actions a number of times until they feel just right, unnecessary re-reading and re-writing, mentally repeating phrases. […] Stressful or traumatic events can also trigger disruptive thoughts and behaviors that are the characteristics of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

• #1 OCD Symptoms: Understanding and Managing Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder – Resilience Lab

  https://www.resiliencelab.us/thought-lab/ocd

  For instance, individuals with OCD may develop obsessive fears about causing harm to themselves or others or a strong need for symmetry and orderliness. These obsessions can trigger compulsive behaviors like excessive cleaning, counting, or arranging. […] The severity of OCD can fluctuate over time, often exacerbated by stress. […] Obsessions in OCD are not merely persistent thoughts or mental images. They are unwanted, intrusive, and often distressing, causing intense anxiety. […] Compulsions in OCD are repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed with the intention to reduce or prevent the anxiety associated with their obsessive thoughts. […] Common compulsions include activities like excessive hand washing and constant repetition of rituals. […] Identifying and addressing these compulsive behaviors is crucial for effectively managing and treating OCD.

• #1 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – Psychiatric Disorders – Merck Manual Professional Edition

  https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/psychiatric-disorders/obsessive-compulsive-and-related-disorders/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd

  The obsessions and/or compulsions must be time-consuming (ie, they take up an 1 hour a day or often much more) or cause patients significant distress or impairment in functioning; at their extreme, obsessions and compulsions may be incapacitating. […] The degree of insight varies. Most people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) recognize to at least some degree that the beliefs underlying their obsessions are not realistic. […] Many people with OCD have coexisting past or current psychologic disorders. […] Almost 50% of people with OCD have suicidal thoughts at some point, and about 10% attempt suicide. […] Diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder is clinical, based on the presence of obsessions, compulsions, or both. […] The obsessions or compulsions must be time-consuming (eg, > 1 hour a day) or cause clinically significant distress or impairment of functioning. […] Cognitive behavioral therapy, which encompasses exposure and ritual prevention therapy, has been shown to be effective for in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. […] Many experts believe that combining exposure and ritual prevention with medications is best, especially for severe cases.

• #1

  https://www.healthshare.com.au/questions/2541-what-are-the-symptoms-of-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/

  Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can affect people in many different ways. Not all people experience the same symptoms or the same degree of intensity of symptoms. Compulsions are repetitive, distressing and purposeful physical behaviours, which are related to the obsessive thoughts. Examples of compulsive behaviours include: repeated hand washing due to the fear of contamination […] OCD is an anxiety disorder with symptoms of obsessions (intrusive and persisting upsetting thoughts, ideas, images or impulses) and compulsions (behaviours and rituals designed to undo the anxiety caused by the obsession). Sometimes the rituals are behaviours you can see (e.g. checking, ordering, washing, cleaning, counting, asking for reassurance) and sometimes they are mental rituals (like counting, repeating special words, numbers or phrases silently, praying). At times the person with OCD will do these rituals on their own and try to hide them from you. At other times, they may try to involve your help (e.g. get you to do some checking too). The obsessions can be about anything and may include themes involving health, sexual behaviour and identity, safety, aggression and religion. For example, someone may have the intrusive thought that they have germs on their hands, so they will feel compelled to wash their hands repetitively (sometimes a certain number of times, sometimes in a certain ritualised way). This may take up a considerable amount of time as they do not rely on their senses to decide when to stop or start washing. Instead, they rely on whether they feel contaminated or feel better rather than any visible signs of contamination. The washing ritual will reduce their anxiety in the short term, but keep the OCD going in the long term as it reinforces the belief that the way to deal with the germ obsessions is to wash in this way. Thus, people with OCD get caught in vicious cycles of trying to reduce their anxiety by giving into obsessions with behaviours that only end up keeping their anxiety and obsessions going. Usually they are aware that the obsessions and compulsions are irrational or excessive, but they have not learned other ways of dealing with these distressing obsessions.

• #1 Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) | NHS inform

  https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/mental-health/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/

  Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition. It causes you to have obsessive thoughts and carry out compulsive activity. This can be distressing and can have a big impact on your life. Treatment can help you keep it under control. […] OCD affects people in different ways. It usually causes a particular pattern of thought and behaviour. […] This pattern has 4 main steps: Obsession where an intrusive, distressing thought, image or urge repeatedly enters your mind. Anxiety the obsession causes a feeling of intense anxiety or distress. Compulsion repetitive behaviours or mental acts that you feel driven to perform although you may recognise them as senseless or pointless. Temporary relief the compulsive behaviour brings temporary relief, but the obsession and anxiety return, causing the cycle to begin again.

• #1 Understanding Obsessive Compulsive Disorder | Psychlinks Forum — Archive Only (2004-2022)

  https://forum.psychlinks.ca/threads/understanding-obsessive-compulsive-disorder.29704/

  The obsessions and compulsions become a vicious circle, with the person performing a compulsion to reduce the anxiety caused by the obsession but getting only temporary relief; soon the obsession returns (or a new variation of it), precipitating another round of compulsions, and so on. […] Most people are diagnosed with OCD by age 19, with boys likely to be diagnosed earlier than girls. But it is possible to develop OCD later in life. The symptoms usually—though not always—come upon the person gradually. In 60 to 70 percent of cases, OCD is a chronic condition, though it can be managed. […] OCD is generally considered a chronic condition, with symptoms waxing and waning over the life course. But aggressive and early treatment can go a long way toward helping a person manage the condition and even achieve remission, in which he or she experiences mild to no symptoms. […] Without treatment, quality of life for people with OCD is diminished, as they tend to spend a considerable amount of time obsessing and acting on their compulsions, and to avoid situations that trigger their obsessions or compulsions.

• #1 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – PsychDB

  https://www.psychdb.com/ocd/1-ocd

  Early-onset OCD is more common among males, is more likely comorbid with tics and more severe. With no treatment, the remission rates in adults are low (about 20% achieve remission in 40 years of follow up). […] Poor prognostic factors include: early onset, poor insight, schizotypal features, and thought/action compulsions. […] Many individuals with OCD have good or fair insight into their symptoms (able to understand their thoughts and beliefs are not rational), while some have poor insight. A small minority (around 4%) will have absent insight or delusion-like beliefs, which is linked to worse outcomes. […] Compulsions are usually performed in response to an obsession (e.g. – obsession about contamination compulsion of hand washing rituals; obsession about a situation being incorrect compulsion of repeating rituals until it feels just right).

• #1 Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20354432

  Obsessive-compulsive disorder usually includes both obsessions and compulsions. But it’s also possible to have only obsession symptoms or only compulsion symptoms. You may or may not know that your obsessions and compulsions are beyond reason. But they take up a great deal of time, reduce your quality of life, and get in the way of your daily routines and responsibilities. […] OCD usually begins in the teen or young adult years, but it can start in childhood. Symptoms usually begin over time and tend to vary in how serious they are throughout life. The types of obsessions and compulsions you have also can change over time. Symptoms generally get worse when you are under greater stress, including times of transition and change. OCD, usually thought to be a lifelong disorder, can have mild to moderate symptoms or be so severe and time-consuming that it becomes disabling. […] If your obsessions and compulsions affect your quality of life, see your doctor or mental health professional.

• #1 Stressful Life Events and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – Find a Psychologist

  https://www.findapsychologist.org/stressful-life-events-and-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd-by-dr-fabiana-franco/

  Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a serious anxiety condition that can affect people of all ages and backgrounds. Individuals with OCD often experience unnecessary worry. Did I turn the stove off before I left the house? Are my hands clean? Will my family be okay? […] It is very difficult to control or stop these types of worried, intrusive thoughts. They add unnecessary stress on top of everyday normal stressors. […] There is a known association between stressful life events and OCD. However, it is also clear that stressful life events by themselves, do not cause OCD. It is believed that stressful life events can trigger OCD, but only in people who are genetically vulnerable. […] If you have OCD you are likely to notice that your symptoms get worse when you are experiencing more stress than normal. All of a sudden, your compulsive intrusive thoughts become stronger and more difficult to deal with. […] Spikes in everyday stress levels tend to trigger more acute OCD symptoms. Learning to cope with, and thereby reduce your experience of stress, is an effective way to gain control over your OCD symptoms.

• #1 Understanding Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder | Skyland Trail

  https://www.skylandtrail.org/understanding-obsessive-compulsive-disorder/

  Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, or OCD, was categorized as an anxiety disorder until 2013 when the DSM-5 was published and categorized OCD as a separate and distinct diagnosis. […] About 1 in 100 adults and about 1 in 200 children in the U.S. have OCD. While you can be diagnosed with OCD at any age, many people start to exhibit symptoms between the ages of 8 and 12 or in early adulthood. […] OCD is a chronic illness. By engaging in evidence-based mental health treatment, individuals with OCD can control the symptoms and manage the associated disability. A combination of evidence-based therapy and medications is effective for about 70 percent of individuals. […] Like many mental illnesses, symptoms of OCD may wax and wane over time. Life transitions, significant losses, or physical illnesses can exacerbate OCD symptoms, as can the use of illicit drugs and even some over-the-counter medications and caffeine.

• #1 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – Psychiatric Disorders – Merck Manual Professional Edition

  https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/psychiatric-disorders/obsessive-compulsive-and-related-disorders/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd

  Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by recurrent, persistent, unwanted, and intrusive thoughts, urges, or images (obsessions) and/or by repetitive behaviors or repetitive mental acts that patients feel driven to do (compulsions, rituals) to try to lessen or prevent the anxiety the obsessions cause. […] OCD is slightly more common among women than men in adulthood and affects about 1 to 2% of the population at any given point in time. […] Mean age of onset for OCD is 19 to 20 years, but about 25% of cases begin by age 14. […] Obsessions are unwanted, intrusive thoughts, urges, or mental images, the presence of which usually causes marked distress or anxiety. […] Compulsions (often called rituals) are excessive, repetitive, purposeful behaviors that people feel they must do to prevent or reduce the anxiety caused by their obsessive thoughts or to neutralize their obsessions.

• #1 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Symptoms, Causes, and Statistics

  https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/mental-health/ocd/

  OCD tends to develop in late adolescence or early adulthood, the disorder rarely occurs in the elderly. If someone has OCD symptoms, they have a 25 percent chance of having a relative who also has it. OCD often occurs in people who have pre-existing anxiety disorders, depression, ADHD, substance abuse and certain personality disorders. […] The DSM reports the typical yearly occurrence of OCD is 1.2 percent, with a similar occurrence internationally of around 1.8 percent. OCD becomes problematic and impacts someone’s life during late adolescence for males and during the early twenties for females. A child as young as six-years-old can develop this disorder, and 25 percent of cases become present around age 14. Obsessive-compulsive disorder onset is not likely after age 35.

• #1 International OCD Foundation | Who Gets OCD?

  https://iocdf.org/about-ocd/who-gets-ocd/

  OCD affects adults and children of all races, ethnicities, genders, and backgrounds. […] OCD can start at any time from preschool to adulthood. […] Although OCD can occur at any age, there are generally two age ranges when OCD tends to first appear: Between the ages of 7 and 12. […] Between the late teen years and early adulthood, around age 20. […] About 1 in 40 adults have OCD or will develop it at some point in their lives. […] It is estimated that at least 1 in 100 kids and teens have OCD. […] On average, children and teens struggle with their OCD symptoms for 2.5 years before being assessed by a mental health professional. […] It can take another 1.5 years between diagnosis and receiving treatment for the first time. […] This is due to the confusing nature of OCD and the fact that many youth with symptoms may try to hide them – or may simply not understand what is happening.

• #1 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – Harvard Health

  https://www.health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd-a-to-z

  In obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a person is troubled by intrusive, distressing thoughts (obsessions) and feels the pressure to carry out repetitive behaviors (compulsions). […] OCD affects up to 3% of people worldwide. A childhood onset form can start around 10 years of age, more commonly in boys than girls. Most of the remainder of people with OCD have their first symptoms before they turn 25 in this group, women outnumber men. OCD symptoms don’t usually develop after age 30. […] The two defining symptoms of OCD are obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions. The symptoms are bad enough to be time-consuming, cause functional impairment or be significantly distressing. […] In OCD, the obsessions and compulsions are excessive and distressing. They are time-consuming, sometimes eating up several hours each day. They may interfere with personal relationships, as well as performance at work or school.

• #1 OCD: Some Facts | Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety | Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

  https://www.med.upenn.edu/ctsa/forms_ocdfacts.html

  It is estimated that six million people in the USA have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). OCD typically begins in adolescence, but may start in early adulthood or childhood. The onset of OCD is typically gradual, but in some cases it may start suddenly. Symptoms fluctuate in severity from time to time, and this fluctuation may be related to the occurrence of stressful events. Because symptoms usually worsen with age, people may have difficulty remembering when OCD began, but can sometimes recall when they first noticed that the symptoms were disrupting their lives. […] As you may already know, the symptoms of OCD include the following: Unwanted or upsetting doubts, Thoughts about harm, contamination, sex, religious themes, or health, Rituals like excessive washing, checking, praying, repeating routine activities, Special thoughts designed to counteract negative thoughts.

• #1 Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – Symptoms and Causes

  https://www.psychguides.com/guides/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-symptoms-causes-and-effects/

  There is no way prevent OCD completely, but the earlier you seek help for your symptoms, the more likely you are to be able to manage them well and stop them from becoming severe. […] The earlier your start treatment for OCD, the more likely it is to work well. Different treatment works best depending on the person. Still, most people with obsessive-compulsive disorder find therapy, medication, or a combination of the two, to be an effective way to manage their symptoms. […] Obsessive-compulsive disorder can be successfully treated, lessening the impact on someone’s day-to-day life. […] Many people with obsessive-compulsive disorder have other mental health disorders, like depression, anxiety, or an eating disorder.

• #1 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Diagnosis and Management | AAFP

  https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2015/1115/p896.html

  Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic illness that can cause marked distress and disability. It is a complex disorder with a variety of manifestations and symptom dimensions, some of which are underrecognized. Early recognition and treatment with OCD-specific therapies may improve outcomes, but there is often a delay in diagnosis. Patients can experience significant improvement with treatment, and some may achieve remission. […] The average time it takes to receive treatment after meeting diagnostic criteria for OCD is 11 years. […] OCD has a substantial effect on quality of life and level of functioning. It is often a chronic disorder (60% to 70% of cases) and is likely to persist if not treated effectively. Significant improvement or remission is possible when evidence-based therapies are applied. Patients with a later age of onset, shorter duration of symptoms, good insight, and response to initial treatment have an increased likelihood of remission.

• #1 Obsessive-compulsive disorder: MedlinePlus Medical EncyclopediaLock

  https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000929.htm

  Not everyone who has habits or rituals they like to perform has OCD. But, the person with OCD: Is not able to control their thoughts or behaviors, even when they understand that they are excessive. […] OCD is treated using a combination of medicine and behavioral therapy. […] OCD is a long-term (chronic) illness with periods of severe symptoms followed by times of improvement. A completely symptom-free period is unusual. Most people improve with treatment. […] Long-term complications of OCD have to do with the type of obsessions or compulsions. For example, constant handwashing can cause skin breakdown. OCD does not usually progress into another mental problem.

• #1 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1934139-overview

  The mainstays of treatment of OCD are as follows: Serotonergic antidepressant medications, Particular forms of behavior therapy (exposure and response prevention and some forms of cognitive-behavioral therapy [CBT]), Education and family interventions, Neurosurgery (anterior capsulotomy, or deep brain stimulation) [3], in extremely refractory cases. […] First-line serotonergic antidepressants for OCD are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs; (fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, sertraline, paroxetine, citalopram, escitalopram) and clomipramine (Anafranil), a tricyclic antidepressant. […] Overall, close to 70% of patients entering treatment experience a significant improvement in their symptoms. However, OCD remains a chronic illness, with symptoms that may wax and wane during the life of the patient.

• #1 About OCD | Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders | Stanford Medicine

  https://med.stanford.edu/ocd/about.html

  Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) usually begins before age 25 years and often in childhood or adolescence. […] For most adult patients who come to treatment, OCD appears to be a chronic condition. […] The prognosis of children and adolescents who present for treatment appears to be good for half or more. […] In community-identified cases, remission, or a course marked by long, symptom-free periods, seems to be the rule. […] Patients with OCD are at high risk of having comorbid (co-existing) major depression and other anxiety disorders. […] OCD seems to be associated with a mildly increased risk for alcohol abuse and dependence. […] OCD impairs patients’ quality of life.

• #1 OCD Symptoms: Obsessions and Compulsions | Psych Central

  https://psychcentral.com/ocd/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd-symptoms

  In short, compulsions are repetitive thoughts or actions you feel a need to act out when you experience an obsessive thought. You might use compulsions to reduce anxiety about an obsessive thought. […] Very often, people with OCD recognize that their obsessions and compulsions aren’t making any logical sense, but they often feel compelled to do them anyway. […] Research suggests that insight plays a large role in how well treatment works for someone with OCD. […] About 8 in 10 people who have OCD develop it before they reach age 18. […] Left untreated, a child’s OCD symptoms may come and go but typically remain into adulthood. […] The obsessions and compulsions of children and teens with PANDAS or PANS may look the same as childhood-onset OCD, but there are some differences between the two.

• #1 Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) – Diagnosis and treatment – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354438

  Obsessive-compulsive disorder treatment may not result in a cure. But it can help bring symptoms under control so that they don’t rule your daily life. Depending on how serious your OCD is, you may need long-term, ongoing or more-intensive treatment. […] Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a type of psychotherapy, is effective for many people with OCD. Exposure and response prevention (ERP), a part of CBT therapy, involves exposing you over time to a feared object or obsession, such as dirt. Then you learn ways not to do your compulsive rituals. ERP takes effort and practice, but you may enjoy a better quality of life once you learn to manage your obsessions and compulsions. […] Sometimes, psychotherapy and medicines can’t control OCD symptoms. In cases that don’t respond to treatment, other options may be offered: Intensive outpatient and residential treatment programs. Full treatment programs that stress ERP therapy principles may help people with OCD who struggle with being able to function because of how serious their symptoms are.

• #1 Obsessive compulsive disorder | Better Health Channel

  https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/obsessive-compulsive-disorder

  Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterised by obsessions and compulsions. […] People with OCD experience recurrent and persistent thoughts, images or impulses that are intrusive and unwanted (obsessions). They also perform repetitive and ritualistic actions that are excessive, time-consuming and distressing (compulsions). […] Obsessions can produce feelings ranging from annoyance and discomfort to acute distress, disgust and panic. […] Compulsions are repetitive actions that are often carried out in a special pattern or according to specific rules. […] Compulsions give an illusory sense of short-term relief to anxiety. However, they actually reinforce anxiety and make the obsessions seem more real, so that the anxiety soon returns. […] Compulsions and obsessions may take up many hours of a persons day and can interfere with family and social relationships.

• #1 Obsessive compulsive disorder | Better Health Channel

  https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/obsessive-compulsive-disorder

  OCD can make it difficult for people to perform everyday activities like eating, drinking, shopping or reading. […] OCD is often compounded by depression and other anxiety disorders, including social anxiety, panic disorder and separation anxiety. […] Before the disorder is identified and treated, families may become deeply involved in the sufferers rituals, which can cause distress and disruption to family members.

• #1 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) (for Teens) | Nemours KidsHealth

  https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/ocd.html

  OCD can show up in many parts of their life. Things like getting dressed, having breakfast, or doing schoolwork seem full of stressful choices. […] Like in many health conditions, a person’s genes play a role in whether they get OCD. That’s why OCD often runs in families. […] The treatment for OCD is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). In therapy, people meet with a therapist to talk, learn, and practice skills. Along with therapy, some people may take medicine for OCD. […] But even when someone with OCD knows this, it’s not easy to just stop doing rituals. That’s why therapy teaches skills like coping and calming skills for anxiety, how to deal with worry thoughts, how to face fears safely, how to resist doing rituals. […] The more people with OCD resist rituals, the more worry thoughts can fade. As the person practices their skills, the brain’s activity can change for the better. […] If you think you might have OCD: Tell a parent or adult in your life what you’re going through. They can take you to your doctor or mental health provider to find out if you have OCD. It can be a relief to know what’s causing the symptoms. And to find out there’s therapy that works for OCD.

• #1 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) (for Teens) | Nemours KidsHealth

  https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/ocd.html

  Compulsions are behaviors people with OCD feel a strong urge to do. They are also called rituals. To someone with OCD, rituals seem like the way to stop the thoughts, fix things, be safe, or make sure bad things won’t happen. […] Most people with OCD can tell that the thoughts and rituals don’t make sense. But OCD leads them to feel unsure. They feel a strong urge to do the ritual. They feel if they don’t, something bad could happen. At first, rituals give some relief from the bad thoughts and feelings. […] But rituals multiply. They take more time and energy. And the worry thoughts keep coming back. This is how OCD becomes a stressful cycle. Instead of stopping OCD, the rituals keep it going. […] Someone with OCD will spend more than an hour a day bothered by worry thoughts and rituals. They may check, arrange, fix, erase, count, or start over many times, just to feel that things are OK.

• #1 Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Symptoms and Treatment Options

  https://sbtreatment.com/ocd-treatment/symptoms/

  Unfortunately, some may self-medicate with drugs and alcohol. Self-medicating OCD with drugs and alcohol prevents the OCD sufferer from getting the right diagnosis and proper treatment. […] OCD, or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, is a disruptive mental illness that falls within the top 20 reasons for illness-related disabilities throughout the world. Left untreated, OCD often leads to depression, severe anxiety, and physical condition. […] A typical case of OCD includes both compulsions and obsessions, but it is possible to be diagnosed with the disorder while displaying only symptoms of either mania or compulsion. […] Obsessions are persistent and recurrent impulses, thoughts, or images. They cause distressing emotions, including disgust and anxiety. […] Compulsions are actions, either mental acts or physical behaviors, that you feel driven to perform. This drive is due to the response to obsessions. […] As the disorder increases in severity, avoidance can grow to become more problematic.

• #1

  https://www.nuhs.edu.sg/patient-care/find-a-condition/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd

  OCD obsessions are repeated, persistent, unwanted ideas, thoughts, images or impulses that you experience involuntarily and that appear to be senseless. These obsessions typically intrude when you are trying to think of or do other things. […] In OCD, your quality of life can decrease dramatically as the condition dictates most of your days and you become consumed with carrying out compulsive behaviors and rituals. Most adults can recognise that their obsessions and compulsions do not make sense. Children, however, may not understand what is wrong. But the lives of both children and adults can be severely affected by OCD. Children may find it difficult to attend school, and adults may find it difficult to work. Relationships may suffer. When the symptoms have such an influence on your daily functioning, it is more likely that you are suffering from OCD.

• #1 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Diagnosis and Management | AAFP

  https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2015/1115/p896.html

  Early and aggressive treatment of OCD, with a goal of remission, is important for a positive outcome. […] Patients with OCD should be monitored for psychiatric comorbidities and suicide risk. In their lifetime, 90% of patients with OCD meet criteria for at least one other psychiatric diagnosis. The most common comorbid diagnoses are anxiety disorders (75.8%), including panic disorder, social phobia, specific phobias, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Other common comorbidities include mood disorders (63.3%), particularly major depressive disorder (40.7%); impulse control disorders (55.9%); and substance use disorders (38.6%). The risk of suicide in persons with OCD is high. In one community survey, 63% of persons with OCD had experienced suicidal thoughts, and 26% had attempted suicide.

• #1 Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD) | Boston Children’s Hospital

  https://www.childrenshospital.org/conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd

  Frequently occurring disturbing thoughts or images are called obsessions, and the repeated rituals performed to try to prevent or dispel them are called compulsions. […] A child or adolescent with OCD has obsessive thoughts that are unwanted and related to fears (such as a fear of touching dirty objects) and uses compulsive rituals to control the fears (such as excessive hand-washing). When OCD is present, obsessive thoughts cause distress and compulsive rituals can become so frequent or intense that they interfere with activities of daily living (ADLs) and normal developmental activities. […] While symptoms of OCD do occur in children, it is recognized as a relatively common mental health disorder in adolescents, with up to 2 percent to 3 percent of children and adolescents having OCD.

• #1 Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD) | Boston Children’s Hospital

  https://www.childrenshospital.org/conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd

  There are two hallmark symptoms of OCD, obsessions and compulsions. Individuals with the disorder may experience either symptom or both. […] Obsessions are defined as recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges, or impulses that are experienced, at some time during the disturbance, as intrusive (bothersome), unwanted, and that most individuals find distressing. […] Compulsions are defined by repetitive behaviors or mental acts that the individual feels the need to perform in response to an obsession or according to a rule that must be applied very strictly. […] The symptoms of OCD may resemble other medical conditions or psychiatric problems, including Tourette’s syndrome. […] Many children can have routines that they do in the context of normal development as discussed above. Concern should arise if you note that the thoughts and/or routines that your child engages in become excessive (i.e., taking up large portions of their time) and cause distress; or if the rituals/routines negatively impact your child’s social/interpersonal relationships, academic performance, daily mood, and/or sleep.

• #1

  https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/emotional-problems/Pages/Obsessive-Compulsive-Disorders-in-Children.aspx

  All kids feel anxious or worried at times. For some, anxious thoughts won’t go away. And with these thoughts, your child or teen may feel an intense need to repeat very specific actions. They may not be able to explain why, but often they feel it is to protect themselves or someone they love. […] This pattern of recurring thoughts and behaviors can mean a child is struggling with obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD. […] OCD is an anxiety disorder that affects an estimated 1% to 3% of all children and teens. […] Kids with OCD may have trouble sleeping, getting ready for school and other activities on time, or completing homework and everyday chores. […] Generally, OCD is diagnosed when: A child cannot control their fearful thoughts and compulsive actions. […] Symptoms are causing significant struggles at school, home, and in the child’s relationships with others.

• #1 Pediatric Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) | Texas Children’s

  https://www.texaschildrens.org/content/conditions/pediatric-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd

  Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common disorder that often begins in childhood and is frequently unrecognized, underdiagnosed, and undertreated. […] OCD is characterized by recurrent obsessions (unwanted ideas, thoughts, images, or urges) and compulsions (repetitive behaviors or mental acts) designed to ward off risk and/or to ease distress. […] Pediatric OCD has many different manifestations – concerns about germs, worrying about being responsible for harm, seeing disturbing violent images, preoccupation with luck rules, and having to have things be “just right.” […] What is consistent across the many faces of OCD is the persistent effort made to reduce uncertainty and distress. Unfortunately, these efforts actually maintain and strengthen OCD symptoms. When left untreated, pediatric OCD has the potential to become a chronic and debilitating condition that interferes with development and persists into adulthood.

• #1 Psychiatry.org – What Is are Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders?

  https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/what-is-obsessive-compulsive-disorder

  OCD currently affects 1-2% of people in the United States, and, among adults, slightly more women than men are affected. OCD often begins in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood. […] Obsessions are unwanted, intrusive, recurrent, and persistent thoughts, urges, or images that cause distressing emotions such as anxiety, fear, or disgust. […] Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts that a person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession. […] Patients with OCD who receive appropriate treatment usually experience improvement in OCD symptoms as well as increased quality of life and improved functioning. […] A type of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) known as exposure and response (ritual) prevention (ERP) is the first-line therapy for OCD. […] A class of medications known as selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the other first-line treatment for OCD.

• #1 Overview – Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) – NHS

  https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/overview/

  Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition where a person has obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours. […] OCD can affect men, women and children. People can start having symptoms from as early as 6 years old, but it often begins around puberty and early adulthood. […] If you have OCD, you’ll usually experience frequent obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours. […] An obsession is an unwanted and unpleasant thought, image or urge that repeatedly enters your mind, causing feelings of anxiety, disgust or unease. […] A compulsion is a repetitive behaviour or mental act that you feel you need to do to temporarily relieve the unpleasant feelings brought on by the obsessive thought. […] Women can sometimes have OCD during pregnancy or after their baby is born. Obsessions may include worrying about harming the baby or not sterilising feeding bottles properly. Compulsions could be things such as repeatedly checking the baby is breathing, and intrusive, unwanted and unpleasant thoughts, images or urges. These can cause anxiety and lead to repetitive behaviours.

• #1 Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) – Change Mental Health

  https://changemh.org/conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/

  Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterised by persistent, distressing obsessions unwanted thoughts or images that lead to compulsive behaviours. […] While manageable, OCD can become time-consuming, challenging and disrupt daily life. These obsessions can be difficult to ignore, causing increasing anxiety. […] Obsessions are intrusive and unwelcome thoughts that continuously occupy your mind, causing increasing anxiety. These thoughts are challenging to ignore and can be disturbing. […] Compulsions are repetitive actions or behaviours to alleviate the anxiety triggered by obsessions. These actions are repeated until a sense of relief is achieved. […] Symptoms of perinatal OCD include: […] Compulsions in perinatal OCD might include excessive cleaning or washing, constantly checking on the babys safety, seeking reassurance from others, or engaging in mental rituals like counting or praying.

• #1 OCD: Types, Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Related Conditions

  https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/obsessive-compulsive-disorder

  While there aren’t clinically recognized types of OCD, obsessions and compulsions tend to revolve around certain common themes. […] It’s important to recognize that all new parents have some level of anxiety about their babies. As with other forms of OCD, it rises to the level of a disorder if it keeps you from living normally or taking care of your baby, or if you rely on compulsive behaviors to manage your obsessions. […] Experts arent sure why some people have OCD. […] Stress doesn’t cause OCD, but it can worsen the symptoms, especially when you’re dealing with change. OCD may appear for the first time after a traumatic event or a life transition such as a move, the birth of a sibling, or a marriage or divorce. […] Symptoms usually start between late childhood and early adulthood, and most people receive their diagnosis as young adults.

• #1 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder | Psychology Today

  https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder

  Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental disorder in which people experience unwanted and repeated thoughts, feelings, images, or sensations (obsessions) and engage in behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) in response. […] OCD varies in severity, but if left untreated, it can limit one’s ability to function at work, school, or home. […] The severity of symptoms may vary over time, but the disorder can persist for years or decades if it is not treated. […] These obsessions or compulsions take up more than one hour a day or cause clinically significant distress or impairment for the individual. […] In response to their obsessions, most people with OCD resort to compulsions, which may include behaviors such as washing; rearranging or counting objects; seeking reassurance; or checking (to see if an oven is turned off or a door is locked, for example). […] Individuals with OCD vary in their degree of insight into the condition. […] People with OCD frequently also experience another form of mental illness. […] Sometimes stress from a life-changing event such as death or divorce or abuse can set off compulsive behavior.

• #1 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1934139-overview

  Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by distressing, intrusive obsessive thoughts and/or repetitive compulsive physical or mental acts. […] Common obsessions include the following: Contamination, Safety, Doubting one’s memory or perception, Scrupulosity (need to do the right thing, fear of committing a transgression, often religious), Need for order or symmetry, Unwanted, intrusive sexual/aggressive thoughts. […] Common compulsions include the following: Cleaning/washing, Checking (eg, locks, stove, iron, safety of children), Counting/repeating actions a certain number of times or until it „feels right”, Arranging objects, Touching/tapping objects, Hoarding, Confessing/seeking reassurance, List making. […] Many patients with OCD have other psychiatric comorbid disorders, and may exhibit any of the following: Mood and anxiety disorders, Somatoform disorders, especially hypochondriasis and body dysmorphic disorder, Eating disorders, Impulse control disorders, especially kleptomania and trichotillomania, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, Tic disorder, Suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

• #1 Understanding Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder | Skyland Trail

  https://www.skylandtrail.org/understanding-obsessive-compulsive-disorder/

  To be diagnosed with OCD, you must have obsessions. Obsessions are ruminative and intrusive thoughts centered on a singular idea or concern. […] Some people with OCD also have compulsions, though compulsive behaviors are not required for an OCD diagnosis. Compulsions are behaviors that someone performs or completes in an attempt to undo the obsessive thoughts they are experiencing. […] For many people with untreated OCD, these symptoms cause fear, emotional pain, and disability. However, some people find their thoughts and behaviors intrusive and time-consuming, but not necessarily worrisome or frightening. […] OCD often co-occurs with mood disorders like major depressive disorder. If you spend hours a day ruminating on a fear that you will get sick or someone you love will die, you are more likely to develop symptoms of depression.

• #1 OCD Symptoms: What Are the Symptoms of OCD Disorder?

  https://www.brainsway.com/knowledge-center/what-are-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-symptoms/

  OCD’s intrusive cognitive symptoms can cause so much stress and frustration that they eventually prompt the individual experiencing them into a series of actions, in an attempt to thwart these unwanted thoughts, and regain a sense of control. […] Any relief from the compulsive action is typically short-lived. […] Meanwhile, the anxiety they feel continues to assail them, in a self-feeding loop of adverse thoughts, behaviors, and emotions. […] It is at this point that OCD-related depression can settle in. […] The thoughts and actions that characterize OCD can be equally distressing and confusing, as they can appear to randomly grow out of one’s mind. […] The relationship between the compulsive actions and distressing thoughts that preceded them can sometimes seem pretty clear. […] Though they may seem random, a more in-depth look at an individual’s various OCD symptoms through psychodynamics or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) could help uncover hidden themes and shared root causes behind them.

• #1 Understanding Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder | Skyland Trail

  https://www.skylandtrail.org/understanding-obsessive-compulsive-disorder/

  Though no longer classified as an anxiety disorder, OCD is still strongly linked with anxiety. Many adults and teens with OCD have a fear of what will happen in the future and a strong desire to try to control the environment around them. […] A high co-morbidity exists between OCD and substance use. Many patients report that they use to get relief from obsessive thinking. […] Because symptoms of OCD look like symptoms of many other disorders and can co-occur with mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders, a thorough psychiatric assessment is paramount to an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment plan. […] There are two evidence-based psychotherapeutic treatments for OCD: cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP). […] Medications are important for OCD. There are only two medications that have been FDA approved to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder.

• #1 OCD in Young Adults: 10 Questions About OCD | Newport Institute

  https://www.newportinstitute.com/resources/treatment/ocd-young-adults/

  Treatment for this disorder interrupts the OCD cycle, and helps people with OCD learn ways to prevent compulsions and decrease obsessive thoughts. […] People with OCD are most likely to be diagnosed during the late teen years. In general, OCD is diagnosed before age 19, and 25 percent of cases are diagnosed by age 14. […] Yes, research shows that OCD and substance abuse often go together. That’s because people with OCD may use drugs or alcohol to try to calm their obsessive thoughts and cope with the anxiety and fear related to the disorder. […] More than 1 in 4 individuals with OCD also have substance use disorder. […] There is no single, clear cause of OCD. However, research supported by organizations like the International OCD Foundation shows that the following factors may contribute to developing the disorder.

• #1 OCD Symptoms: Understanding and Managing Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder – Resilience Lab

  https://www.resiliencelab.us/thought-lab/ocd

  The development of OCD is a complex interplay of genetic, neurological, and environmental factors. […] Genetics account for approximately half of the risk for developing OCD, with environmental factors and brain biology also being significant contributors. […] Diagnosing Obsessive Compulsive Disorder isn’t simply a matter of ticking off a checklist of symptoms. It involves a comprehensive physical exam, medical history, and mental health assessment to accurately diagnose the disorder and rule out other medical conditions that may cause similar symptoms. […] OCD typically does not improve without treatment, making therapy services and medication essential for managing symptoms. […] Choosing the appropriate treatment for OCD can result in an increased quality of life and improved functioning for patients.

• #1 Obsessive–compulsive disorder – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obsessive%E2%80%93compulsive_disorder

  The phrase obsessive–compulsive is sometimes used in an informal manner unrelated to OCD to describe someone as excessively meticulous, perfectionistic, absorbed, or otherwise fixated. […] Individuals with OCD often use rationalizations to explain their behavior; however, these rationalizations do not apply to the behavioral pattern, but to each individual occurrence. […] OCD sometimes manifests in mental instead of overt compulsions. This manifestation may be termed „primarily obsessional OCD” and typically involves mental compulsions, such as mental avoidance or excessive rumination.

• #1 OCD Subtypes: Different Subtypes of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

  https://www.verywellmind.com/what-are-the-different-types-of-ocd-2510663

  If you experience this symptom subtype, you will often have intense thoughts related to possible harm to yourself or others. You use checking rituals to relieve your distress. […] This symptom subtype, sometimes referred to as purely obsessional or pure O OCD, often relates to unwanted obsessions surrounding sexual, religious, or aggressive themes. […] When experiencing this subtype, you feel a strong need to arrange and rearrange objects until they are „just right.” […] While hoarding has long been conceptualized as a variant of OCD, it is now recognized as a distinct diagnosis in the DSM-5-TR. […] In addition to the main subtypes of OCD, a few others may also be commonly seen. […] There is no consensus as to how many OCD subtypes exist, or even what those subtypes are. […] Although many people think of OCD as a disorder that affects only adults, a similar percentage of children are also affected.

• #1 OCD Subtypes: Different Subtypes of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

  https://www.verywellmind.com/what-are-the-different-types-of-ocd-2510663

  We usually think of OCD as being caused by a combination of stress, genetic factors, and an imbalance of chemicals in the brain. However, there is growing evidence that a specific form of childhood OCD may actually be an autoimmune disorder called pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS). […] Choosing a course of treatment for OCD depends on several factors, including: What has worked in the past, Your attitudes toward medication, Your motivation to undergo exposure response prevention (ERP) or cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), The severity of your symptoms, The presence of other disorders such as depression. […] In general, most OCD types respond to some combination of cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT), exposure-response prevention, and medication.

• #1

  https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/PANS_and_PANDAS-Sudden_Onset_of_OCD_Symptoms-123.aspx

  When a child suddenly begins to have new thoughts and unusual behaviors, it can be alarming to parents and family members. If the changes occur suddenly and include unwanted recurring thoughts (obsessions), repetitive behaviors (compulsions), and/or decreased eating, your child’s doctor may consider the diagnosis of Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS). Family members can sometimes pinpoint the moment the problems started, this is not a gradual process. […] Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by recurrent intense obsessions and/or compulsions that cause severe distress and interfere with day-to-day functioning. OCD generally develops more slowly over weeks or months. PANS can appear very suddenly. […] Most children who develop OCD symptoms do not have PANS and PANDAS. Researchers are trying to better understand the differences between PANS, PANDAS, and OCD.

• #1 OCD Episodes | Charlie Health

  https://www.charliehealth.com/post/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-episodes-ocd-episodes

  OCD episodes may be why you feel out of control. […] An OCD episode involves a notable escalation in the frequency and severity of OCD symptoms—but with proper help, it’s manageable. […] Living with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can make life feel unmanageable at times, especially when symptoms are intense. […] When intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions) linked to OCD intensify, it’s referred to as an OCD episode (also known as an OCD attack or OCD spike). […] During an OCD episode, it can be challenging to complete daily tasks and engage in life in a meaningful way. […] Managing OCD episodes is possible. […] Common signs of an OCD episode include intense and persistent thoughts, images, or urges that cause distress; compulsive behaviors or rituals performed to reduce anxiety or prevent perceived harm; feeling unable to control these thoughts or behaviors despite efforts to resist them; spending a significant amount of time engaging in compulsions; and experiencing distress or impairment in functioning due to OCD obsessions and compulsions.

• #1 OCD Episodes | Charlie Health

  https://www.charliehealth.com/post/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-episodes-ocd-episodes

  OCD episodes can manifest differently from person to person. […] An OCD episode can be brought on by various factors. […] Stressful life events, major transitions, or trauma have all been associated with an increase in OCD symptoms. […] Additionally, disruptions in routine, sleep deprivation, and changes in hormonal levels are known to contribute to the onset of OCD episodes. […] It’s important to note that the relationship between various triggers and OCD episodes is complex, and not everyone with OCD will experience spikes in response to stress. […] Recognizing potential triggers and addressing them in therapy can be a crucial aspect of managing and preventing OCD episodes. […] There are several effective treatments for managing OCD symptoms. […] Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a specific type of CBT that involves exposing individuals to thoughts, images, or situations that trigger anxiety and preventing the accompanying compulsive behaviors.

• #1 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – Harvard Health

  https://www.health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd-a-to-z

  OCD rarely disappears spontaneously, and the symptoms may last for years if not treated properly. In fact, it is common for a person with OCD to have the problem for 5 to 10 years before seeing a psychiatrist. […] Since the symptoms of OCD seldom disappear without treatment, you should contact your primary care doctor whenever obsessive thoughts or compulsions cause you significant distress or discomfort, interfere with your ability to have a normal life at home or work, or cause you injury. […] Since OCD can be a chronic (long-lasting) condition, ongoing treatment may be necessary.

• #1 OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder): Symptoms & Treatment

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9490-ocd-obsessive-compulsive-disorder

  In OCD, compulsions are repetitive actions that you feel like you have to do to ease or get rid of the obsessions. […] People with OCD don’t want to perform these compulsive behaviors and don’t get pleasure from them. But they feel like they have to perform them or their anxiety will get worse. […] Compulsions are time-consuming and get in the way of important activities that you value. […] The most common treatment plan for OCD involves psychotherapy (talk therapy) and medication. […] The prognosis (outlook) of OCD can vary. OCD is often a lifelong condition that can wax and wane. […] People with OCD who receive appropriate treatment often experience increased quality of life and improved social, school and/or work functioning. […] If you don’t receive treatment, the cycle of obsessions and compulsions is more difficult to break and treat, as structural changes in your brain take place.

• #1 Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) — symptoms and treatment | healthdirect

  https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd

  Common compulsions include excessive hand washing, the need to continually check things, counting items, hair pulling, skin picking, hoarding random objects, praying excessively, and constantly seeking reassurance from others. […] OCD can be a lifelong condition. […] The best results may come from a combination of treatments. […] Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is guided by a mental health professional. […] Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a type of CBT. […] Antidepressants are used to treat OCD in Australia and can be very effective. […] If not treated, OCD can become chronic and cause significant impact to your functioning and quality of life. […] People who have OCD are also more likely to develop depression and other anxiety disorders, such as panic disorder or social anxiety.

• #1 Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Test 

  https://www.embarkbh.com/tests/ocd-test/

  Early intervention and support are key, especially for children struggling with OCD. […] If OCD goes untreated it can significantly impact the daily lives and well-being of young people. Without proper intervention, OCD symptoms can worsen over time and lead to increased distress, anxiety, depression, and substance use issues. […] If you suspect that you or your child, adolescent, teen, or young adult may be experiencing symptoms of OCD, it is important to take the next steps towards seeking help from a mental health specialist.

• #1 Psychiatry.org – What Is are Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders?

  https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/what-is-obsessive-compulsive-disorder

  Patients with mild to moderate OCD symptoms should be treated with either therapy (CBT/ERP) or medication (an SSRI/SRI), or both treatments, depending on patient preference, the presence or absence of associated psychiatric conditions, treatment availability, and other considerations. Severe OCD should be treated with both CBT/ERP and an SSRI/SRI concurrently.

• #1 Overview – Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) – NHS

  https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/overview/

  It’s unlikely OCD will get better without proper treatment and support. […] There are some effective treatments for OCD that can help reduce the impact it has on your life. […] The main treatments are talking therapy usually cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which helps you face your fears and obsessive thoughts without „putting them right” through compulsions and medicine usually a type of antidepressant medicine called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which can help by altering the balance of chemicals in your brain. […] CBT will usually have an effect quite quickly. It can take up to 12 weeks before you notice the effects of treatment with SSRIs, but most people will eventually benefit. […] Some people may be referred to a specialist mental health service for further treatment.

• #1 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – PsychDB

  https://www.psychdb.com/ocd/1-ocd

  For individuals with OCD, compulsions reduce the distress triggered by the obsession, or prevent a feared event from occurring (e.g. – getting sick, hurting someone). […] It is important to note that compulsions are not connected in a realistic way to the feared event (e.g. – arranging items in a certain colour to prevent harm to a loved one) or are significantly excessive (e.g. – washing hands for 30 minutes at a time due to fears of contamination). […] Compulsions that are performed are not pleasurable! Rather, they allow the individual to experience relief from their anxiety or distress. […] Treatment-refractory OCD is defined as failing to achieve adequate symptom relief despite receiving an adequate course of CBT and at least 2 adequate trials of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) (or clomipramine).

• #1 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1934139-overview

  Roughly 15% of patients can show a progressive worsening of symptoms or deterioration in functioning over time. […] Approximately 5% of patients have a complete remission of symptoms between episodes of exacerbation. […] A small subgroup of these patients may be candidates for neurosurgical intervention.

• #1 Obsessive-compulsive Disorder | NAMI

  https://www.nami.org/about-mental-illness/mental-health-conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/

  Compulsions are repetitive acts that temporarily relieve the stress brought on by an obsession. People with these disorders know that these rituals don’t make sense but feel they must perform them to relieve the anxiety and, in some cases, to prevent something bad from happening. […] A typical treatment plan will often include both psychotherapy and medications, and combined treatment is usually optimal. […] Though OCD cannot be cured, it can be treated effectively. […] The most common type of medication used to treat OCD are antidepressants. Treating OCD with antidepressants often takes longer to take effect than treating depression. […] Coping with OCD can be challenging, but NAMI is here to provide support and information for you and your family.

• #1 Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD) | Boston Children’s Hospital

  https://www.childrenshospital.org/conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd

  Preventive measures to reduce the incidence of OCD in children are not known at this time. However, early detection and intervention can reduce the severity of symptoms, enhance the child’s normal growth and development, and improve their quality of life. […] A substantial percentage of pediatric OCD cases will become “subclinical” over time, meaning that the symptoms will remit and/or reduce in severity so that there is no impact on daily functioning. For individuals who continue to have symptoms into adulthood, ongoing psychotherapy and medication treatment are recommended to help alleviate the impact that OCD symptoms have on daily life.

• #2 Psychiatry.org – What Is are Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders?

  https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/what-is-obsessive-compulsive-disorder

  People with obsessive-compulsive disorder have obsessions (persistent, recurring, unwanted thoughts and urges) and compulsions (repetitive behaviors or mental acts) that the individual feels driven to perform in response to an obsession. […] Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disorder in which people have obsessions, which are recurring, unwanted and unpleasant thoughts, ideas, urges, or images. To get rid of the thoughts, people with OCD feel driven to do something repetitively (i.e., perform a compulsion, also called a ritual). The obsessions and compulsions — such as hand washing/cleaning, checking on things, and mental acts like counting — are problematic. They are time consuming (for example, take more than an hour a day), cause significant emotional distress, or significantly interfere with a persons daily activities such as social interactions.

• #2 About International OCD Foundation | All There Is To Know About OCD

  https://iocdf.org/about-ocd/

  There is a public misconception that obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is just a minor personality quirk or preference and that everyone is „a little bit OCD.” In reality, OCD is a serious and often debilitating mental health disorder that affects people of all ages and walks of life, and occurs when a person gets caught in a cycle of obsessions and compulsions. […] Obsessions are unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that trigger intensely distressing feelings. Compulsions are behaviors an individual engages in to attempt to get rid of the obsessions and/or decrease distress. […] In order for a diagnosis of OCD to be made, this cycle of obsessions and compulsions must be so extreme that it consumes a lot of time (more than an hour every day), causes intense distress, or gets in the way of important activities that the person values.

• #2 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – Psychiatric Disorders – Merck Manual Professional Edition

  https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/psychiatric-disorders/obsessive-compulsive-and-related-disorders/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd

  Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by recurrent, persistent, unwanted, and intrusive thoughts, urges, or images (obsessions) and/or by repetitive behaviors or repetitive mental acts that patients feel driven to do (compulsions, rituals) to try to lessen or prevent the anxiety the obsessions cause. […] OCD is slightly more common among women than men in adulthood and affects about 1 to 2% of the population at any given point in time. […] Mean age of onset for OCD is 19 to 20 years, but about 25% of cases begin by age 14. […] Obsessions are unwanted, intrusive thoughts, urges, or mental images, the presence of which usually causes marked distress or anxiety. […] Compulsions (often called rituals) are excessive, repetitive, purposeful behaviors that people feel they must do to prevent or reduce the anxiety caused by their obsessive thoughts or to neutralize their obsessions.

• #2 Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): Symptoms and more

  https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/178508

  Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that involves distressing, intrusive, obsessive thoughts. These can lead a person to do unwanted, compulsive physical actions, such as repeated safety checks or avoiding germs. […] OCD involves obsessions, compulsions, or both. These can cause distress and interfere with the person’s ability to perform routine activities. […] Common topics of this anxiety include: contamination by bodily fluids, germs, dirt, and other substances; violence, such as the fear of acting on an urge to self-harm or hurt others; perfectionism, which may involve the fear of losing things or an intense focus on exactness or remembering things; responsibility, including a fear of being responsible for a catastrophic event; unwanted sexual thoughts, including thoughts about inappropriate activities; religious or superstitious beliefs, such as a concern about offending God or stepping on cracks in the sidewalk; identity, which may include sexual orientation or gender identity.

• #2 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1934139-overview

  Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by distressing, intrusive obsessive thoughts and/or repetitive compulsive physical or mental acts. […] Common obsessions include the following: Contamination, Safety, Doubting one’s memory or perception, Scrupulosity (need to do the right thing, fear of committing a transgression, often religious), Need for order or symmetry, Unwanted, intrusive sexual/aggressive thoughts. […] Common compulsions include the following: Cleaning/washing, Checking (eg, locks, stove, iron, safety of children), Counting/repeating actions a certain number of times or until it „feels right”, Arranging objects, Touching/tapping objects, Hoarding, Confessing/seeking reassurance, List making. […] Many patients with OCD have other psychiatric comorbid disorders, and may exhibit any of the following: Mood and anxiety disorders, Somatoform disorders, especially hypochondriasis and body dysmorphic disorder, Eating disorders, Impulse control disorders, especially kleptomania and trichotillomania, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, Tic disorder, Suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

• #2 OCD: Some Facts | Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety | Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

  https://www.med.upenn.edu/ctsa/forms_ocdfacts.html

  In fact, your learning more about your OCD symptoms will help you get more improvement from this treatment. OCD is a set of habits that, as you know, involves intrusive, unwanted, and upsetting thoughts, ideas, images, or impulses (obsessions). Along with these thoughts, you have unwanted feelings of extreme discomfort or anxiety and string urges to do something to reduce the distress. Because of this, people get into the habit of using various special thoughts or actions to try to get rid of the anxiety (compulsive rituals). These habits of thinking, feeling and acting are extremely unpleasant, wasteful, and difficult to get rid of on your own. […] Unfortunately, doing rituals to reduce distress doesn’t work all that well. Your distress goes down for a short time and comes back again. Often, you find yourself doing more and more ritualizing to try to get rid of the anxiety. Even then, the rituals do not reduce the distress, and before long, you are putting so much time and energy into rituals that other areas of your life get seriously disrupted.

• #2 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – Mental Health Disorders – Merck Manual Consumer Version

  https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/mental-health-disorders/obsessive-compulsive-and-related-disorders/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd

  People with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have obsessions—thoughts, images, or urges that occur over and over even though people do not want them to. […] The themes of the obsessions include harm (to self or others), cleaning or contamination, forbidden or taboo thoughts (for example, aggressive or sexual obsessions), and the need for symmetry. […] Common obsessions include concerns about contamination (for example, worrying that touching doorknobs will cause disease), doubts (for example, worrying that the front door was not locked), and concern that items are not perfectly lined up or even. […] Compulsions (also called rituals) are one way people respond to their obsessions. […] Common compulsions include washing or cleaning to be rid of contamination, checking to allay doubt (for example, checking many times to make sure a door is locked), counting (for example, repeating an action a certain number of times), and ordering (for example, arranging tableware or workspace items in a specific pattern).

• #2 Understanding OCD Symptoms: From Obsessions to Compulsions

  https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/understanding-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-symptoms

  Compulsions are things you do to try to ease the anxiety your obsessions cause. You can’t seem to stop doing them, even when they take up lots of time and interfere with your life. Compulsions can take several forms and follow themes, like obsessions. These symptoms would also relate to the obsession. You would feel the absolute need to do these compulsions, even if you don’t want to. If you try to not do the act, the urge to do it gets stronger and stronger until you can’t hold off any longer. […] OCD symptoms can start at any age, but for most people, they begin in late childhood or early adulthood. The symptoms and themes of OCD in children are much the same as in adults, but they may change according to age, grade, and stage of childhood. OCD symptoms may clear up from time to time or get steadily worse, and they’re often worst when you’re stressed. Your particular obsessions and compulsions can change as time goes on.

• #2 Obsessive-compulsive Disorder | NAMI

  https://www.nami.org/about-mental-illness/mental-health-conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/

  Compulsions are repetitive acts that temporarily relieve the stress brought on by an obsession. People with these disorders know that these rituals don’t make sense but feel they must perform them to relieve the anxiety and, in some cases, to prevent something bad from happening. […] A typical treatment plan will often include both psychotherapy and medications, and combined treatment is usually optimal. […] Though OCD cannot be cured, it can be treated effectively. […] The most common type of medication used to treat OCD are antidepressants. Treating OCD with antidepressants often takes longer to take effect than treating depression. […] Coping with OCD can be challenging, but NAMI is here to provide support and information for you and your family.

• #2 OCD in Young Adults: 10 Questions About OCD | Newport Institute

  https://www.newportinstitute.com/resources/treatment/ocd-young-adults/

  For young adults with OCD, the level of intensity and the frequency of the obsessive thoughts are much more extreme than normal. And even if the person knows that their fears are irrational and extreme, they are unable to stop the obsessive thinking. […] To cope with these obsessions, a person with OCD engages in compulsions, also known as OCD rituals. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or thoughts that a person with OCD engages in, often multiple times a day, to relieve the anxiety. […] The four stages of the OCD cycle include: Obsessions – experiencing obsessive thoughts; Anxiety – distress related to the obsessions; Compulsions – using ritualized behaviors or thoughts as a way to keep the danger at bay; Temporary relief, which is disturbed the next time an obsessive thought surfaces.

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• #2 Signs & Symptoms of OCD | Cedar Crest Hospital

  https://www.cedarcresthospital.com/disorders/ocd/symptoms-signs-effects/

  Most individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder have both obsessions and compulsions, however it is not uncommon for individuals to experience only one or the other. Symptoms of OCD usually begin gradually and will vary in severity throughout a persons life, tending to be worse during times of higher stress. […] The symptoms for this disorder are broken down into two categories and are as follows: […] These obsession symptoms typically intrude other thoughts when youre trying to do or think about other things and may include: […] These compulsive symptoms are aimed to control the anxiety and stress about obsessive thoughts. These compulsions arent usually rationally connected to preventing the feared event. […] The long term effects and consequences of untreated or undiagnosed obsessive-compulsive disorder can be devastating for the individual struggling with the disorder. These effects may include: […] It is not uncommon for someone with OCD to also struggle with another mental health illness.

• #2 OCD Episodes | Charlie Health

  https://www.charliehealth.com/post/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-episodes-ocd-episodes

  OCD episodes can manifest differently from person to person. […] An OCD episode can be brought on by various factors. […] Stressful life events, major transitions, or trauma have all been associated with an increase in OCD symptoms. […] Additionally, disruptions in routine, sleep deprivation, and changes in hormonal levels are known to contribute to the onset of OCD episodes. […] It’s important to note that the relationship between various triggers and OCD episodes is complex, and not everyone with OCD will experience spikes in response to stress. […] Recognizing potential triggers and addressing them in therapy can be a crucial aspect of managing and preventing OCD episodes. […] There are several effective treatments for managing OCD symptoms. […] Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a specific type of CBT that involves exposing individuals to thoughts, images, or situations that trigger anxiety and preventing the accompanying compulsive behaviors.

• #2 International OCD Foundation | Who Gets OCD?

  https://iocdf.org/about-ocd/who-gets-ocd/

  OCD affects adults and children of all races, ethnicities, genders, and backgrounds. […] OCD can start at any time from preschool to adulthood. […] Although OCD can occur at any age, there are generally two age ranges when OCD tends to first appear: Between the ages of 7 and 12. […] Between the late teen years and early adulthood, around age 20. […] About 1 in 40 adults have OCD or will develop it at some point in their lives. […] It is estimated that at least 1 in 100 kids and teens have OCD. […] On average, children and teens struggle with their OCD symptoms for 2.5 years before being assessed by a mental health professional. […] It can take another 1.5 years between diagnosis and receiving treatment for the first time. […] This is due to the confusing nature of OCD and the fact that many youth with symptoms may try to hide them – or may simply not understand what is happening.

• #2 Obsessive–compulsive disorder – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obsessive%E2%80%93compulsive_disorder

  OCD is chronic and long-lasting with periods of severe symptoms followed by periods of improvement. […] Treatment can improve ability to function and quality of life, and is usually reflected by improved Y-BOCS scores. […] Treatment for OCD may involve psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy such as antidepressants or surgical procedures such as deep brain stimulation or, in extreme cases, psychosurgery. […] OCD can also manifest exclusively through mental compulsions, such as mental avoidance and excessive rumination. This manifestation is sometimes referred to as primarily obsessional obsessive–compulsive disorder. […] While some studies have shown that OCD with earlier onset is associated with greater severity, other studies have not been able to validate this finding. […] The condition is also associated with a general increase in suicidality.

• #2 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1934139-overview

  Roughly 15% of patients can show a progressive worsening of symptoms or deterioration in functioning over time. […] Approximately 5% of patients have a complete remission of symptoms between episodes of exacerbation. […] A small subgroup of these patients may be candidates for neurosurgical intervention.

• #2 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – PsychDB

  https://www.psychdb.com/ocd/1-ocd

  Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an obsessive-compulsive and related disorder that consists of (1) obsessions (intrusive, unwanted, and repetitive thoughts, urges, or images that don’t go away and are generally unwanted, or ego-dystonic) and/or (2) compulsions (repetitive physical behaviours or mental acts performed, meant to reduce the anxiety caused by the obsessions). Typical themes include contamination or cleaning, checking, symmetry, ordering or counting, as well as fears of harm to self or others. Obsessions can also be violent, sexual, or religious in nature. […] The initial onset of OCD is usually gradual, though acute onset is possible (but may warrant a more detailed neurologic work up). The course of OCD is typically chronic and fluctuating, although studies involving youth suggest that over half experience remission by early adulthood.

• #2 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Diagnosis and Management | AAFP

  https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2015/1115/p896.html

  Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic illness that can cause marked distress and disability. It is a complex disorder with a variety of manifestations and symptom dimensions, some of which are underrecognized. Early recognition and treatment with OCD-specific therapies may improve outcomes, but there is often a delay in diagnosis. Patients can experience significant improvement with treatment, and some may achieve remission. […] The average time it takes to receive treatment after meeting diagnostic criteria for OCD is 11 years. […] OCD has a substantial effect on quality of life and level of functioning. It is often a chronic disorder (60% to 70% of cases) and is likely to persist if not treated effectively. Significant improvement or remission is possible when evidence-based therapies are applied. Patients with a later age of onset, shorter duration of symptoms, good insight, and response to initial treatment have an increased likelihood of remission.

• #2 OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder): Symptoms & Treatment

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9490-ocd-obsessive-compulsive-disorder

  In OCD, compulsions are repetitive actions that you feel like you have to do to ease or get rid of the obsessions. […] People with OCD don’t want to perform these compulsive behaviors and don’t get pleasure from them. But they feel like they have to perform them or their anxiety will get worse. […] Compulsions are time-consuming and get in the way of important activities that you value. […] The most common treatment plan for OCD involves psychotherapy (talk therapy) and medication. […] The prognosis (outlook) of OCD can vary. OCD is often a lifelong condition that can wax and wane. […] People with OCD who receive appropriate treatment often experience increased quality of life and improved social, school and/or work functioning. […] If you don’t receive treatment, the cycle of obsessions and compulsions is more difficult to break and treat, as structural changes in your brain take place.

• #2 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – Psychiatric Disorders – Merck Manual Professional Edition

  https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/psychiatric-disorders/obsessive-compulsive-and-related-disorders/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd

  The obsessions and/or compulsions must be time-consuming (ie, they take up an 1 hour a day or often much more) or cause patients significant distress or impairment in functioning; at their extreme, obsessions and compulsions may be incapacitating. […] The degree of insight varies. Most people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) recognize to at least some degree that the beliefs underlying their obsessions are not realistic. […] Many people with OCD have coexisting past or current psychologic disorders. […] Almost 50% of people with OCD have suicidal thoughts at some point, and about 10% attempt suicide. […] Diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder is clinical, based on the presence of obsessions, compulsions, or both. […] The obsessions or compulsions must be time-consuming (eg, > 1 hour a day) or cause clinically significant distress or impairment of functioning. […] Cognitive behavioral therapy, which encompasses exposure and ritual prevention therapy, has been shown to be effective for in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. […] Many experts believe that combining exposure and ritual prevention with medications is best, especially for severe cases.

• #2 OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder): Symptoms & Treatment

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9490-ocd-obsessive-compulsive-disorder

  Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition in which you have frequent unwanted thoughts that cause you to perform repetitive behaviors. Treatment for OCD usually involves psychotherapy and medication. The sooner OCD is diagnosed and treated, the better the outlook. […] OCD is usually a life-long (chronic) condition, but symptoms can come and go over time. […] The main symptoms of OCD are obsessions and compulsions that interfere with normal activities. For example, symptoms may often prevent you from getting to work on time. Or you may have trouble getting ready for bed in a reasonable amount of time. […] Symptoms of OCD may come and go, ease over time or worsen over time. […] In OCD, obsessions are unwanted, intrusive thoughts or mental images that cause intense anxiety. People with OCD can’t control these thoughts. Most people with OCD realize that these thoughts are illogical or irrational.

• #2 5 Signs of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Mark Rybakov, DO: Adult, Adolescent, and Child Psychiatrist

  https://www.drmrybakov.com/blog/5-signs-of-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd

  Compulsive behaviors often offer temporary relief from anxiety and can be time-consuming, interfering with your daily activities. […] OCD can also cause you to feel shame or embarrassment about your condition, leading to social isolation and difficulty forming relationships. […] Perfectionism is a common trait among people with OCD. You may feel a strong need for things to be done „just right,” and become upset or anxious when items don’t meet your expectations. Often, this leads to procrastination and difficulty in making decisions or completing tasks. […] OCD can significantly impact your life and disrupt your ability to work, socialize, and carry out daily activities. For example, if you have OCD, you might spend hours performing compulsive behaviors, leaving you little time or energy for other activities. Your symptoms might make it tough to maintain relationships or hold a job.

• #2 Understanding Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder | Skyland Trail

  https://www.skylandtrail.org/understanding-obsessive-compulsive-disorder/

  OCD often impacts the family in a way other illnesses do not. […] Family therapy is therefore an important part of treatment for OCD. […] A lot of work the individual patient is doing in treatment through CBT and ERP can be undone if the people in that patients support system are not educated about how to appropriately support someone with OCD. […] Research has not yet specifically linked social media with OCD. However, many studies have reported evidence that unhealthy social media use exacerbates many mental illnesses like anxiety and depression. […] After receiving a diagnosis of OCD from psychological testing or a psychiatric assessment, patients and families should look for specialized mental health treatment for OCD.

• #2 Obsessive compulsive disorder | Better Health Channel

  https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/obsessive-compulsive-disorder

  OCD can make it difficult for people to perform everyday activities like eating, drinking, shopping or reading. […] OCD is often compounded by depression and other anxiety disorders, including social anxiety, panic disorder and separation anxiety. […] Before the disorder is identified and treated, families may become deeply involved in the sufferers rituals, which can cause distress and disruption to family members.

• #2 Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD) | Boston Children’s Hospital

  https://www.childrenshospital.org/conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd

  There are two hallmark symptoms of OCD, obsessions and compulsions. Individuals with the disorder may experience either symptom or both. […] Obsessions are defined as recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges, or impulses that are experienced, at some time during the disturbance, as intrusive (bothersome), unwanted, and that most individuals find distressing. […] Compulsions are defined by repetitive behaviors or mental acts that the individual feels the need to perform in response to an obsession or according to a rule that must be applied very strictly. […] The symptoms of OCD may resemble other medical conditions or psychiatric problems, including Tourette’s syndrome. […] Many children can have routines that they do in the context of normal development as discussed above. Concern should arise if you note that the thoughts and/or routines that your child engages in become excessive (i.e., taking up large portions of their time) and cause distress; or if the rituals/routines negatively impact your child’s social/interpersonal relationships, academic performance, daily mood, and/or sleep.

• #2 Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD) | Boston Children’s Hospital

  https://www.childrenshospital.org/conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd

  Preventive measures to reduce the incidence of OCD in children are not known at this time. However, early detection and intervention can reduce the severity of symptoms, enhance the child’s normal growth and development, and improve their quality of life. […] A substantial percentage of pediatric OCD cases will become “subclinical” over time, meaning that the symptoms will remit and/or reduce in severity so that there is no impact on daily functioning. For individuals who continue to have symptoms into adulthood, ongoing psychotherapy and medication treatment are recommended to help alleviate the impact that OCD symptoms have on daily life.

• #2 Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) – Change Mental Health

  https://changemh.org/conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/

  Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterised by persistent, distressing obsessions unwanted thoughts or images that lead to compulsive behaviours. […] While manageable, OCD can become time-consuming, challenging and disrupt daily life. These obsessions can be difficult to ignore, causing increasing anxiety. […] Obsessions are intrusive and unwelcome thoughts that continuously occupy your mind, causing increasing anxiety. These thoughts are challenging to ignore and can be disturbing. […] Compulsions are repetitive actions or behaviours to alleviate the anxiety triggered by obsessions. These actions are repeated until a sense of relief is achieved. […] Symptoms of perinatal OCD include: […] Compulsions in perinatal OCD might include excessive cleaning or washing, constantly checking on the babys safety, seeking reassurance from others, or engaging in mental rituals like counting or praying.

• #2 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – PsychDB

  https://www.psychdb.com/ocd/1-ocd

  Early-onset OCD is more common among males, is more likely comorbid with tics and more severe. With no treatment, the remission rates in adults are low (about 20% achieve remission in 40 years of follow up). […] Poor prognostic factors include: early onset, poor insight, schizotypal features, and thought/action compulsions. […] Many individuals with OCD have good or fair insight into their symptoms (able to understand their thoughts and beliefs are not rational), while some have poor insight. A small minority (around 4%) will have absent insight or delusion-like beliefs, which is linked to worse outcomes. […] Compulsions are usually performed in response to an obsession (e.g. – obsession about contamination compulsion of hand washing rituals; obsession about a situation being incorrect compulsion of repeating rituals until it feels just right).

• #2 Understanding Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder | Skyland Trail

  https://www.skylandtrail.org/understanding-obsessive-compulsive-disorder/

  To be diagnosed with OCD, you must have obsessions. Obsessions are ruminative and intrusive thoughts centered on a singular idea or concern. […] Some people with OCD also have compulsions, though compulsive behaviors are not required for an OCD diagnosis. Compulsions are behaviors that someone performs or completes in an attempt to undo the obsessive thoughts they are experiencing. […] For many people with untreated OCD, these symptoms cause fear, emotional pain, and disability. However, some people find their thoughts and behaviors intrusive and time-consuming, but not necessarily worrisome or frightening. […] OCD often co-occurs with mood disorders like major depressive disorder. If you spend hours a day ruminating on a fear that you will get sick or someone you love will die, you are more likely to develop symptoms of depression.

• #2 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Diagnosis and Management | AAFP

  https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2015/1115/p896.html

  Early and aggressive treatment of OCD, with a goal of remission, is important for a positive outcome. […] Patients with OCD should be monitored for psychiatric comorbidities and suicide risk. In their lifetime, 90% of patients with OCD meet criteria for at least one other psychiatric diagnosis. The most common comorbid diagnoses are anxiety disorders (75.8%), including panic disorder, social phobia, specific phobias, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Other common comorbidities include mood disorders (63.3%), particularly major depressive disorder (40.7%); impulse control disorders (55.9%); and substance use disorders (38.6%). The risk of suicide in persons with OCD is high. In one community survey, 63% of persons with OCD had experienced suicidal thoughts, and 26% had attempted suicide.

• #2 About OCD | Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders | Stanford Medicine

  https://med.stanford.edu/ocd/about.html

  Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) usually begins before age 25 years and often in childhood or adolescence. […] For most adult patients who come to treatment, OCD appears to be a chronic condition. […] The prognosis of children and adolescents who present for treatment appears to be good for half or more. […] In community-identified cases, remission, or a course marked by long, symptom-free periods, seems to be the rule. […] Patients with OCD are at high risk of having comorbid (co-existing) major depression and other anxiety disorders. […] OCD seems to be associated with a mildly increased risk for alcohol abuse and dependence. […] OCD impairs patients’ quality of life.

• #2 Understanding Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder | Skyland Trail

  https://www.skylandtrail.org/understanding-obsessive-compulsive-disorder/

  Though no longer classified as an anxiety disorder, OCD is still strongly linked with anxiety. Many adults and teens with OCD have a fear of what will happen in the future and a strong desire to try to control the environment around them. […] A high co-morbidity exists between OCD and substance use. Many patients report that they use to get relief from obsessive thinking. […] Because symptoms of OCD look like symptoms of many other disorders and can co-occur with mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders, a thorough psychiatric assessment is paramount to an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment plan. […] There are two evidence-based psychotherapeutic treatments for OCD: cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP). […] Medications are important for OCD. There are only two medications that have been FDA approved to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder.

• #2 Obsessive–compulsive disorder – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obsessive%E2%80%93compulsive_disorder

  The phrase obsessive–compulsive is sometimes used in an informal manner unrelated to OCD to describe someone as excessively meticulous, perfectionistic, absorbed, or otherwise fixated. […] Individuals with OCD often use rationalizations to explain their behavior; however, these rationalizations do not apply to the behavioral pattern, but to each individual occurrence. […] OCD sometimes manifests in mental instead of overt compulsions. This manifestation may be termed „primarily obsessional OCD” and typically involves mental compulsions, such as mental avoidance or excessive rumination.

• #2

  https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/PANS_and_PANDAS-Sudden_Onset_of_OCD_Symptoms-123.aspx

  When a child suddenly begins to have new thoughts and unusual behaviors, it can be alarming to parents and family members. If the changes occur suddenly and include unwanted recurring thoughts (obsessions), repetitive behaviors (compulsions), and/or decreased eating, your child’s doctor may consider the diagnosis of Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS). Family members can sometimes pinpoint the moment the problems started, this is not a gradual process. […] Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by recurrent intense obsessions and/or compulsions that cause severe distress and interfere with day-to-day functioning. OCD generally develops more slowly over weeks or months. PANS can appear very suddenly. […] Most children who develop OCD symptoms do not have PANS and PANDAS. Researchers are trying to better understand the differences between PANS, PANDAS, and OCD.

• #2 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder – Signs, Symptoms & Treatments

  https://www.addictionhelp.com/mental-health/anxiety/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/

  Studies have also shown a strong connection between the environment a person grows up in and developing obsessive-compulsive disorder. […] Obsessive-compulsive disorder involves communication problems between the frontal cortex of the brain and the deeper subcortical area. […] Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS) can occur when tic disease or OCD appears suddenly in a child who was recently sick with strep throat or scarlet fever. […] OCD is treatable. There are a variety of treatment methods, including: Psychotherapy, Medication, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. […] OCD’s main symptoms involve obsessions and compulsions. For people with OCD, these thoughts and behaviors are often uncontrollable. While the person knows that, logically, these thoughts and obsessions are not helpful, they are still usually unable to stop without some kind of intervention.

• #2 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: When Unwanted Thoughts or Repetitive Behaviors Take Over – National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)Lock

  https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-when-unwanted-thoughts-or-repetitive-behaviors-take-over

  Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a long-lasting disorder in which a person experiences uncontrollable and recurring thoughts (obsessions), engages in repetitive behaviors (compulsions), or both. People with OCD have time-consuming symptoms that can cause significant distress or interfere with daily life. However, treatment is available to help people manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life. […] People with OCD may have obsessions, compulsions, or both. Obsessions are repeated thoughts, urges, or mental images that are intrusive, unwanted, and make most people anxious. […] Compulsions are repetitive behaviors a person feels the urge to do, often in response to an obsession. […] OCD symptoms may begin anytime but usually start between late childhood and young adulthood. Most people with OCD are diagnosed as young adults. […] The symptoms of OCD may start slowly and can go away for a while or worsen as time passes. During times of stress, the symptoms often get worse. A person’s obsessions and compulsions also may change over time. […] If left untreated, OCD symptoms can become severe and interfere with daily life.

• #2 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) | HealthLink BC

  https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthwise/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd

  The rituals or behaviours take up a lot of time. They have a big impact on your daily life. If your fear involves unfamiliar situations, you may be so obsessed by the fears that you stop going outside of your home. OCD can lower your quality of life because it affects your ability to work and have relationships. […] Treatment, such as counselling and medicines, can reduce the symptoms of OCD. […] The sooner you get treatment, the better. Early treatment can reduce symptoms and make the illness less disruptive in your life. […] Antidepressants help relieve obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours. They increase the level of serotonin in the brain. This helps regulate the communication between different parts of the brain. […] Ongoing treatment for OCD includes watching the dosage of your medicines and how well they are working. Your doctor may want you to stay on one medicine for at least 10 to 12 weeks before you try a different one. Antidepressants are thought to be the medicine that works best for OCD. […] In rare cases of OCD when other treatment hasn’t helped, deep brain stimulation may be tried. This involves magnetic stimulation of parts of the brain through surgically implanted electrodes.

• #2 Understanding Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder | Skyland Trail

  https://www.skylandtrail.org/understanding-obsessive-compulsive-disorder/

  Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, or OCD, was categorized as an anxiety disorder until 2013 when the DSM-5 was published and categorized OCD as a separate and distinct diagnosis. […] About 1 in 100 adults and about 1 in 200 children in the U.S. have OCD. While you can be diagnosed with OCD at any age, many people start to exhibit symptoms between the ages of 8 and 12 or in early adulthood. […] OCD is a chronic illness. By engaging in evidence-based mental health treatment, individuals with OCD can control the symptoms and manage the associated disability. A combination of evidence-based therapy and medications is effective for about 70 percent of individuals. […] Like many mental illnesses, symptoms of OCD may wax and wane over time. Life transitions, significant losses, or physical illnesses can exacerbate OCD symptoms, as can the use of illicit drugs and even some over-the-counter medications and caffeine.

• #2 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Diagnosis and Management | AAFP

  https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2015/1115/p896.html

  Once OCD is diagnosed, it is important to provide the patient with information and support. Patients and family members should be educated about the chronic nature of OCD and the importance of self-management skills. Evidence-based medical and behavior therapies can reduce the severity and frequency of obsessions and compulsions, and can induce remission in some patients. […] It usually takes at least four to six weeks for patients to note any significant improvement in symptoms; it may take 10 weeks or longer for some. […] If an adequate trial of SSRI or psychological therapy does not result in a satisfactory response, combined treatment is an option. If there is no response to trials of at least two SSRIs, the patient should be referred to a psychiatrist.

• #2 OCD Symptoms: Obsessions and Compulsions | Psych Central

  https://psychcentral.com/ocd/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd-symptoms

  In short, compulsions are repetitive thoughts or actions you feel a need to act out when you experience an obsessive thought. You might use compulsions to reduce anxiety about an obsessive thought. […] Very often, people with OCD recognize that their obsessions and compulsions aren’t making any logical sense, but they often feel compelled to do them anyway. […] Research suggests that insight plays a large role in how well treatment works for someone with OCD. […] About 8 in 10 people who have OCD develop it before they reach age 18. […] Left untreated, a child’s OCD symptoms may come and go but typically remain into adulthood. […] The obsessions and compulsions of children and teens with PANDAS or PANS may look the same as childhood-onset OCD, but there are some differences between the two.

• #2 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1934139-overview

  The mainstays of treatment of OCD are as follows: Serotonergic antidepressant medications, Particular forms of behavior therapy (exposure and response prevention and some forms of cognitive-behavioral therapy [CBT]), Education and family interventions, Neurosurgery (anterior capsulotomy, or deep brain stimulation) [3], in extremely refractory cases. […] First-line serotonergic antidepressants for OCD are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs; (fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, sertraline, paroxetine, citalopram, escitalopram) and clomipramine (Anafranil), a tricyclic antidepressant. […] Overall, close to 70% of patients entering treatment experience a significant improvement in their symptoms. However, OCD remains a chronic illness, with symptoms that may wax and wane during the life of the patient.

• #2 Obsessive-compulsive disorder: MedlinePlus Medical EncyclopediaLock

  https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000929.htm

  Not everyone who has habits or rituals they like to perform has OCD. But, the person with OCD: Is not able to control their thoughts or behaviors, even when they understand that they are excessive. […] OCD is treated using a combination of medicine and behavioral therapy. […] OCD is a long-term (chronic) illness with periods of severe symptoms followed by times of improvement. A completely symptom-free period is unusual. Most people improve with treatment. […] Long-term complications of OCD have to do with the type of obsessions or compulsions. For example, constant handwashing can cause skin breakdown. OCD does not usually progress into another mental problem.

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