OCD Full Form- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

What is OCD? The full form of OCD is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Long-term OCD is characterized by an individual's inability to regulate recurrent, uncontrollable thoughts (called obsessions), compulsive activities (called compulsions), or both. OCD sufferers experience protracted symptoms that can be extremely upsetting or interfere with day-to-day activities. To help patients manage their symptoms and enhance their quality of life, therapy is available. Repetitive actions or troubling thoughts are common in non-OCD individuals. 

But usually, these don't interfere with day-to-day activities. OCD patients have inflexible actions and intrusive, recurring thoughts. The inability to carry out the actions frequently results in severe discomfort, which is frequently linked to a specific dread of terrible outcomes (for oneself or loved ones) if the behaviors are not carried out. While some OCD sufferers may believe their obsessional ideas are real, many OCD sufferers are aware that they are not. People with OCD struggle to break free from their intrusive ideas and cease their compulsive behaviors, even when they are aware that they are unreal.

Signs and Symptoms of OCD:

OCD sufferers may experience compulsions, obsessions, or both. Recurring thoughts, desires, or mental images that are bothersome, undesired, and cause anxiety in most individuals are called obsessions. Typical obsessions consist of:

• Fear of contamination or germs
• Fear of misplacing, forgetting, or losing something
• Fear of being unable to control one's actions
• aggressive ideas about oneself or other people
• Unwanted, outlawed, or taboo ideas about damage, sex, or religion
• desire for everything to be perfectly symmetrical or ordered

Compulsions are recurring actions that someone feels compelled to perform, frequently as a result of an obsession. Typical compulsions consist of:

• Over Scrubbing or hand washing
• putting things in a specific order or arrangement
• Checking things repeatedly, like making sure the oven is off or the door is locked
• An obsession with counting
• silently repeating phrases or in prayer

Not every ritual or habit is a compulsion, and not every repeated idea is an obsession. On the other hand, OCD sufferers generally:

• Can't stop their compulsions or obsessions, even though they are excessive.
• Invest more than one hour per day in their compulsive or obsessive behaviors.
• Don't enjoy their compulsions, yet they might get momentary anxiety alleviation.
• Face serious issues in your day-to-day life as a result of these attitudes or actions. 

Risk Factors:

OCD is more likely to develop in those who have a number of risk factors, even though the underlying causes of the disorder are unknown:

Genetics: Research has indicated that an increased risk of acquiring OCD is linked to having a first-degree relative (parent or sibling) with the disorder.

Biology: Research on brain imaging has revealed that the frontal cortex and subcortical regions of the brain—regions that influence behavior regulation and emotional reactions—often exhibit abnormalities in individuals with OCD. 

Temperament: According to certain research, those with a higher likelihood of developing OCD are those who grow up with more reserved behaviors, unpleasant feelings, and signs of anxiety and sadness.

Childhood trauma: Studies have shown a link between symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder and childhood trauma. Further investigation is required to comprehend this correlation.

Treatment

Psychotherapy: This is a useful treatment for OCD in both adults and children. Studies indicate that for many individuals, specific forms of psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and other associated therapies, can be just as beneficial as medicine. For certain individuals, psychotherapy could work best in conjunction with medication.

Medication: This may be prescribed by medical professionals to treat OCD. Antidepressants that target serotonin, a chemical transmitter in the brain linked to OCD and depression, are the most often recommended drugs for OCD. Among antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are the most common class.