Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterised by recurring thoughts and behaviours that feel beyond a person’s control and may interfere with daily life.
اضافة اعلان
A common misconception is that OCD simply means being overly concerned with tidiness and cleanliness. While cleaning can be one of its symptoms, the disorder often involves an overwhelming preoccupation with a particular action that a person feels compelled to repeat, rather than simply maintaining order. The nature of obsessions and compulsions may also change over time.
According to CNN Arabic, citing MedlinePlus, a service of the US National Library of Medicine, the exact cause of OCD remains unknown. However, factors such as genetics, brain biology and chemistry, and the surrounding environment may play a role.
The disorder usually begins during adolescence or early adulthood, and males are often diagnosed at a younger age than females. According to the website, risk factors for OCD include:
Family history: People who have a first-degree relative with OCD are more likely to develop the disorder themselves. The risk increases if the relative developed OCD during childhood or adolescence.
Brain structure and function: Imaging studies have identified differences in certain areas of the brain in people with OCD.
Childhood trauma, such as child abuse: Some studies have found a link between childhood trauma and OCD.
Temperament: Other studies suggest that people who are shy or experienced sadness, anxiety or depression during childhood may be more likely to develop OCD.
In some cases, children may develop OCD or OCD-like symptoms following a streptococcal bacterial infection. This is known as paediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS).
What are the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder?
OCD symptoms vary from person to person, but they often fall into specific, recurring patterns or themes.
According to the Australian health information website Healthdirect, there are two main types of symptoms:
Obsessions: Unwanted thoughts, images or urges that repeatedly enter the mind and cause distress or discomfort.
Compulsions: Repeated behaviours or rituals performed to relieve the anxiety associated with obsessions.
Obsessions can lead to compulsive behaviours that consume considerable time and are difficult to resist. These behaviours may also interfere with a person’s usual daily activities.
Compulsions often arise from a fear that something bad will happen. For example, a person may believe that someone will die if they do not perform a particular action, feel compelled to avoid stepping on cracks in the pavement, or believe they must wash their hands in a specific way for three minutes. Others may feel the need to check 20 times whether they have switched off an iron.
A person may have OCD if their obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours are time-consuming, excessive or unreasonable, cause significant distress or discomfort, or interfere with their normal life and relationships, such as by making them late for work or school.
