РефератыИностранный языкOcOcd Essay Research Paper Obsessivecompulsive DisorderA disorder

Ocd Essay Research Paper Obsessivecompulsive DisorderA disorder

Ocd Essay, Research Paper


Obsessive-compulsive Disorder


A disorder that brings on unwanted thoughts (obsession) and conscious, ritualized acts


(compulsions), usually in attempt to deal with anxiety which is coming from the


obsessions.


Performing these rituals only brings them temporary relief; if they do not perform them,


it brings on increased anxiety. Both ways will leave them stuck in a difficult situation. If


people go untreated, the illness begins to take over their lives. Treatments have been


developed to help anyone with this. Years ago it was thought that people with OCD had


this due to family problems or from attitudes learned early in a child s life. An example


of this is when a parent would repeatedly emphasize cleanliness. Making the child almost


paranoid. But now there is evidence in PET scans that people with OCD have patterns of


brain activity that is different from other mental illnesses or people that do not have


mental illnesses. There is growing evidence that OCD has a neurobiological basis. The


parts that seem to be affected are the thalamus on the right side and the caudate nucleus.


Scientists used PET scans at the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) to


determine whether improvement in OCD, with behavior therapy, significantly changes


glucose s metabolic rates in the caudate nucleus. The results ended in a decrease in


caudate glucose metabolic rates. Before any treatment there were noticeable correlation


of brain activity between parts of the brain. After treatment, the correlation decreased


significantly. PET scans have shown that patients with OCD, who do behavioral therapy


and medication, show changes in the caudate nucleus. Showing that psychotherapy and


medication is very important in recovery. OCD seems to last for years, or even decades.


Sometimes symptoms become worst than other times. There may be times when


symptoms are very mild, but for most individuals with OCD, the disorder is chronic.


A college freshman has stopped showering and dressing normally because the process


takes several hours a day. He hisses and coughs when he eats and repeatedly wipes his


feet and looks backward when he walks. He stays in his room most of the time, eating


only a few carefully selected foods and constantly checking to see that furniture and


wastebaskets are in the right places. (Harvard Mental Health Letter, Oct. 1998, p1-4)


This is what some people have to go through just to get through a normal morning for


them. This case is extreme, but some people are not as bad. OCD affects between two


and four percent of the population. Until the mid 1980 s people had to hide their disorder,


even though it has been around and known by some since Freud s time. In the 1980 s the


Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation (OCF) of Milford, Conn., wrote to ABC s television


20-20 news show about the disorder and how it is not as rare as thought to be. Then,


around 1989, people realized their disorder is okay and started calling into clinics. That is


when it became public. Until recently, most people with OCD did not go to mental health


professionals. They would go to family, doctors or religious counselors. Some thought of


their disorder as shameful. They did not want people to know what they do. Sometimes


depression would be hidden underneath it all. Other psychiatric disorders body


dysmorphic disorder, trichotillomania and Tourette s syndrome are also thought to be


part of an obs

essive-compulsive spectrum, because they can use the same treatment as


OCD or have a similar biological basis. According to the Epidemiologic Catchment


Area (ECA) survey, 2.5% of Americans have had the symptoms at some time in their


lives. Most of the people affected by OCD are males, about two-thirds. And around one-


third of adults cases of OCD start when they are children. Features associated with OCD


are: depressed mood, somatic/sexual dysfunction, guilt/obsession, addiction,


anxious/fearful/dependent personality.


As you should know by now the key features are, obsessions-unwanted ideas or impulses


that cannot leave the mind of the person with OCD-and compulsions-repetitive


behaviors-such as hand washing and checking. These people with OCD try to get rid of


these thoughts and stop them from engaging in compulsive behavior. Even when they


resist in public, they will get worse over the years, until they are taken over by their


rituals. There was an old belief that OCD was the result of life experiences. Now we


have knowledge that biological factors are the main contributor. It also has a


neurobiological basis since some people tend to respond well to specfic medications that


affected the neurotransmitter serotonin. In brain-imaging studies (by the NIMH) of OCD


showed abnormal neurochemical activity in the areas that are known to play a role in


neurological disorders, which help to find where OCD lies. They also found studies that


showed less white matter in OCD patients than normal control subjects, which shows the


abnormality. Some theories focused on the interaction between behavior, and also on


beliefs and attitudes, and how information is processed. All of which are cognitive


theories.


Could you have OCD? As I looked into this disorder I found a lot of information on


helping people that have OCD. They had tests and questions you could answer to find


out. Sometimes people are called compulsive but that should not confuse anyone.


These are just perfectionist and are very organized, as well. This serves a purpose, maybe


for self-esteem. If you have OCD, you are dealing with life-wrecking obsessions and


rituals. Noticeably different. But there are treatments. The NIHM has provide information


for treatments. Both pharmacological and behavioral help. Patients differ from time to


time; one may benefit more from behavioral than another patient. That is why both are


done. All of this is decided when the patient talks with the therapist. For help you need to


seek a mental health professional. Some family physicians, clinics and health


maintenance organizations can provide treatments and find a health professional for you.


If you go to a university they may have a specialist who is knowledgeable enough about


treatments. Or major medical centers have departments with psychiatric help. The family


can also help out. Families can have a hard time accepting this, but they know they need


to find help. If they get angry or upset it may increase the OCD behavior. Or they might


be extra nice and careful with them. Self-help books give lots of good information on the


disorder, as well. You can also find family therapist that can help everyone affected by


this disorder at once. Encouraging the family member with OCD to take their medicine is


a very good idea. Educational support groups have been made throughout the years, too.


People with OCD are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

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