Index

Anxiety Disorder Flow Chart
Criteria
Definition
Treatment ( Psychotherapy )
Treatment ( Pharmacotherapy )

Definition

OCD ( Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) an anxiety disorder. OCD is characterized by uncontrollable intrusive thoughts and action that can only be alleviated by patterns of rigid and ceremonial behavior. Symptoms frequently cause considerable distress and interference with daily social or work activities. There may be a major preoccupation with the smallest of details in daily life. Obsessive ideas frequently involve contamination, dirt, diseases, germs, real / imagined trauma, or some type of frightening / unpleasant theme. People recognize their obsessive ideas do not make sense but are unable to stop them. These obsessive thoughts frequently lead to compulsive behaviors as the person try to prevent or change some dreaded event. They frequently repeating activities over and over again. ( E.g., washing hands, cleaning things up, checking locks )

ONSET:

Males: 6 to 15.
Females: 20 to 29.
COMMON: Adolescence to early adulthood.
LESS COMMON: Childhood or after 45.

SEE: Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

Diagnostic Criteria ( DSM-IV™ ) made easy.

NOT DUE TO A SUBSTANCE, GENERAL MEDICAL CONDITION, OR OTHER DISORDER.
SEE: CAUSING ANXIETY.

Obsession:

Thoughts or impulses that are distressful, persistent and recurrent. These thoughts or impulses must not just be worries of real-life problems. The person must be aware that these thoughts or impulses are only a product of his / her own mind and they must be actively trying to suppress, ignore, or neutralize them with other actions.

Compulsion:

Must show repetitive behavior physical or mental that can not be controlled. ( E.g., washing hands, checking locks, praying over and over again, counting or saying words repeatedly ) These actions must be amid at trying to prevent or reduce some distressful situation.

Recognize that the obsession or compulsion is unreasonable. This does not apply to children.

At least one hour daily must be taken up doing distressful obsessive / compulsive activities or there must be some type of marked impairment in important areas of functioning. (E.g., work, social life, ... )

With Poor Insight:

If they person for the most part does not recognize that the obsession or compulsion is unreasonable.

Treatment ( Psychotherapy )

Adlerian Therapy
Behavior Therapy
Existential Therapy
Gestalt Therapy
Person-centered Therapy
Psychoanalytic
Rational-emotive Therapy
Reality Therapy
Transactional Analysis

Treatment ( Pharmacotherapy )

Anafranil
BuSpar
Luvox
Paxil
Zoloft