A new study says people with OCD are likely to die earlier. When asked if it it an actual disorder, Dr Achal Bhagat, senior consultant, psychiatrist and psychotherapist, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, and chairperson, Saarthak Mental Health Services, says, “Obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD is a common and distressing type of anxiety disorder. Up to 4% of people may live with it. But OCD is not an occasional repetitive thought or just a need to be meticulous or clean. It is a cluster of symptoms linked with anxiety which cause distress and interfere with everyday life of a person.” In OCD, the person experiences some illogical, intrusive thoughts, ideas, images or doubts over and over again. These thoughts have become coupled with anxiety. They cause significant distress. These thoughts intrude upon whatever else the person is doing.
The second component is compulsion, an action or a thought, which the person experiencing obsessions has to repeat over and over again to deal with or neutralise the anxiety that is linked to the obsessive thoughts. Compulsive acts are a habitual way of coping with the anxiety created by an obsession.
OCD may start early in life, even in childhood. It affects both men and women. The commonest form of obsession experienced is related to contamination. For example, an obsessive thought such as “I have become dirty” is accompanied by intense feelings of anxiety. This experience of anxiety responds only to repeated acts of hand washing. The thought gets triggered again and anxiety is experienced again and the hands have to be washed again.
What are the medical reasons?
While the precise causes of OCD are unknown, researchers believe the condition is caused by a combination of biological and environmental factors. Imbalances in brain chemistry, particularly in the neurotransmitter serotonin, appear to have a role. Studies also reveal a genetic relationship, with OCD running in families. While stress and traumatic situations are not directly responsible for causing OCD, these may trigger the onset of symptoms or even make these worse. Finally, rarely, childhood infections have been linked to the development of OCD.
Is there any treatment?
Most people respond to treatment for OCD. The cure is not magical and symptoms may exacerbate from time to time but quality of life of a person living with OCD significantly improves with treatments.
Some of these are:
Medications: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, and paroxetine can help control serotonin levels and alleviate OCD symptoms in many people.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): This is the primary psychological treatment for OCD. CBT enables individuals to transform their obsessive habits and cognitive processes.
Neuromodulation treatments: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation of the brain is a promising new area of treatment. It is non-invasive and people who do not show response to medication or psychological treatments are likely to respond to TMS.
When can OCD get dangerous?
An alarmist new study suggests not only distress but shorter lifespans for people living with OCD. However, that is not true of most people with OCD.
If left untreated, then OCD can cause significant distress and disability. While violent obsessions are uncommon, severe guilt can undermine patients’ mental health if they have persistent thoughts of harming others. Most people living with OCD can manage their symptoms and live functional, satisfying lives with a combination of treatment, medications, self-help approaches, and lifestyle modifications.