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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

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Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by excessive thoughts that lead to repetitive behaviors (Nestadt et. al, 2010). Even though individuals with the disorder are able to acknowledge that their thoughts and compulsive behaviors are irrational, they are unable to ignore or dismiss them. The two symptom groups of OCD include obsessive thoughts, which induce compulsive actions. Obsessive thoughts may include the fear of uncleanness from germs, dying, or harming oneself or others.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder has a noticeable effect on the individuals suffering from it. Compulsions generally relate to an overwhelming fear or anxiety of what may happen if an obsession is not fulfilled. The anxiety induced by …show more content…

Studies conducted by the Hopkins OCD Family Study have revealed a complex pattern of inheritance potentially involving multiple genes (Nestadt et. al, 2010). The most substantial supporting evidence of this theory is the effectiveness of serotonin reuptake inhibitors (S.S.R.I.s) in controlling the obsessions and compulsions (Goodman et. al, 1989). Also, the study of neuroimaging studies has led to many leading theories suggesting the patterns of activity that cause obsessive thoughts and behaviors arise from failed straito-thalamic inhibition (Nestadt et. al, 2010). Consequently, the genes affecting development, connectivity, and neurotransmission have become the central point of research into the genetic epidemiology of …show more content…

Author David Adams offers an insight into the daily struggle of OCD in his book Man Who Couldn’t Stop: OCD and the True Story of a Life Lost in Thought. Adam’s narrative begins with a one-night stand during his freshman year of college. The next day when a friend inquired about the events of the night, he said that he had had unprotected sex with the girl. “You could have AIDS,” said the friend. Though it was highly unlikely, Adams tells of how his friend’s words became a fixed thought in his mind. It would not go away. The next twenty years of his life were spent in fear that he had or would contract the HIV virus and filled with the compulsions to reassure himself that he had not. Adams called the National AIDS Helpline so often that the operators began to recognize his voice. He had blood tests run on a monthly basis and he felt compelled to examine every red stain that he came in contact with to determine whether it may be blood containing AIDS. There was a specific quote from Adam’s book that stuck with me and helped to put the struggle of the individuals who suffer from OCD into perspective. Adams says, “The snowflake of a single intrusive thought had become a blizzard that blew the snow into every corner of my mind and laid down a blanket that muffled every

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b. In the DSM I & II, the name of OCD was Obsessive Compulsive Reaction (APA, 1952) and Obsessive Compulsive Neurosis in the DSM II (APA, 1968). Remaining as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder from DSMIIIR and on. c. DSM I & II did not specify that the patient’s compulsive rituals must take up a lot of time, like over an hour as exemplified

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PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) occurs often in war veterans who are scarred by events they witness in combat. Along with the PTSD that can develop with a soldier comes home, OCD can also develop from PTSD. Situations such as starting at a new school, starting a new job, or ending a relationship can contribute to OCD, but that is not very often. Traumatic situations that involve injury or harm may lead to fear, so that person becomes terrified of being afflicted by that same trouble again. For example, children with traumatic experiences in their childhood may develop OCD, but different children will react differently to trauma.

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Obsessions can be defined as reoccurring negative thoughts and/or urges meanwhile compulsions are repetitive behaviors that may become ritualistic in order to cope with the obsessions. Common examples of obsessions are fear of contamination, aggressive thoughts, thinking of violent images, and constantly feeling doubt. Meanwhile, common compulsions are frequently washing hands, repeating words or phrases, arranging items, and counting. Adult OCD and pediatric OCD differ due to the fact that children usually “lack insight into the unreasonable nature of their obsessions” (Chowdhury and Marsden 42). In other words, they are unaware of what may be causing their obsessions.

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Also, another example of an obsession is the story of hands concerning Wing Biddlebaum. Biddlebaum being obsessed with his hands touches the boys' shoulders and tousle their hair. In the story The Strength

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To begin, OCD stands for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (Hyman 14). Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is an anxiety disorder marked by persistent, unwanted thoughts that intrude upon one’s mind that causes compulsive behaviors. OCD also includes unneeded actions that one feels must be done over and over again in certain rigid, consistent ways (9). Obsessions are persistent impulses, images, ideas, or thoughts that intrude into a person’s mind, causing intense anxiety or distress. They can be inappropriate, make little sense, and hard to ignore (14).

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Obsession is caused by numerous things. Once obsession has it’s grip on someone, it’s likely to never let go, consuming that person’s every thought, every action, and, possibly, entire life. Captain Ahab, the main character from the movie, Moby Dick, is a clear victim of obsession. He seeks the harshest revenge on a great, white whale called Moby Dick. Ahab’s obsession is caused by pride which is illustrated by Starbuck’s thoughts of murdering Ahab, the many difficulties of the crew, and countless deaths.

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Genes and the environment go hand in hand, so the blame can not be just on the gene. Past experiences program one’s genes; thus, genes are not the only thing that affect one’s behavior. Every human has the MAOA gene, and many men have the variant and do not act on impulsive thoughts. Genes are always a part of one’s life. When a criminal that has the mutation on the MAOA gene commits a crime, they are more likely to commit another crime in the future since it is genetic.

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There are various clinician-administered measures for the assessment of OCD. Clinical interviews and various self-report measures are typically used as well as behavioral avoidance tests or observational tasks in which individuals are exposed to feared stimuli while rating their distress level. It is also important to review the etiological considerations when assessing and diagnosing OCD. Being that OCD involves both genetic and environmental factors. Heredity plays a major role in the etiology of OCD, therefore it would be beneficial to examine if any of Lady Macbeth’s family members have OCD or related disorders.

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Genetic influences are one of the key concepts to antisocial personality disorder. Studies have shown that genetic influences play a role in this disorder. Children born with a mother with antisocial personality disorder can cause the child to have the disorder, but if the mother with the disorder does not raise the child, the child can have a chance not manifest the disorder. Genetic traits of the disorder can also be inherited, such as aggressiveness witch we identify with the disorder. Theories have suggested that an individual with antisocial personality disorder are under aroused and need perform dangerous behaviors to feel aroused.

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Evidenced based treatment for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) includes both pharmacological and psychological treatments. Often, treatment is most effective

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Bulik et al. (2007) review some findings of studies with large sample groups in order to lessen the possibility of false positives because of the random chance. Overall, chromosome 1 shows linkage with restricting-subtype of AN; while measures of drive for thinness and obsession increases the linkage to chromosomes 2 and 13. Kaye et al. (2008) admits that the findings in genome-wide linkage studies are intriguing but require confirmation before substantial time; also, money to identify critical genetic variation in the linkage regions needs to be

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Many individuals have good or fair insight. Some have poor insight. With good insight, the individual recognizes that obsessive-compulsive disorder beliefs are definitely or probably not true. With fair that insight, the individual recognizes that obsessive-compulsive disorder beliefs may or may not be true.

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