subject: Facts about Obsessive Compulsive Anxiety Disorder [print this page] Facts about Obsessive Compulsive Anxiety Disorder
Obsessive compulsive anxiety disorder is a mental disorder that involves intrusive thoughts that produce high anxiety in patients. This type of disorder may involve repetitive behavior, since the patient is attempting to reduce the anxiety by performing various obsessive acts. Obsessive behavior can manifest itself in physical acts (such as repetitive hand washing) or an unhealthy preoccupation with sex, religion or aggressive tendencies.
This compulsive behavior can be very unhealthy, not only because of the high level of stress in the patient, but also because symptoms of the condition can become time-consuming, alienating, and affect other aspects of the patients life. Whereas many patients who suffer from disorders like psychosis, paranoia or schizophrenia are unaware of their state, patients with an anxiety problem are fully aware of their condition and this only exacerbates the problem.
What causes this condition to develop? It will develop as the result of either biological or psychological factors. This condition has been in existence for centuries, and hundreds of years ago, before medical science advanced to the high level it is now, people with OCD were believed to be possessed by the devil. Biologically speaking, OCD has been linked to certain abnormalities with the neurotransmitter serotonin. Psychologically speaking, this condition could be the result of general anxiety disorder, since the patient is carrying out this behavior in order to remove anxiety-producing thoughts. The problem is that their solution is only temporary, and potentially self-destructive.
What type of treatment can help this problem? Most psychiatrists believe that a combination of behavioral therapy, cognitive therapy and medication should be used for a permanent solution. Specifically, exposure and ritual prevention is the most common recommendation, as this will help patients to learn how to tolerate anxiety and eliminating such ritualistic behavior. Medication may or may not be recommended, and if it is, will usually include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
There are also alternative treatments available which might include consuming herbal products like St. John's Wort or even natural sugars. Some have suggested that nutrition deficiencies could be at the root of such anxiety, while more radical studies have shown hallucinogens and even nicotine as having positive effects. If you are experiencing symptoms of OCD, talk to a doctor about treatment you feel comfortable with.
