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Unlocking the mystery Karen and Alicia both suffer from an illness called Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD. Karen shakes out her bedding each morning, afternoon and evening, afraid that germs are living between the sheets. She also washes herself for up to four hours per day, haunted by the thought of catching a deadly disease. When she was five years old, Alicia remembers being afraid that something horrible might happen to her family. Her feelings became stronger at age 15 when she experienced great stress: her grandfather died, she was in a car accident with a friend who was killed, and a close friend went away to school. In her early twenties, the thoughts went out of control when her first child died at birth. Alicia began to think that if her house was perfectly clean, everyone she loved would be safe from harm. She spent hours each day cleaning everything in her house, not because anything was dirty, but because it had been moved or touched. "OCD is one type of anxiety disorder that is characterized by obsessions and/or compulsions. Obsessions are defined as recurring and persistent thoughts, ideas, images or impulses, that are not experienced voluntarily. Most common are aggressive or violent thoughts fears of being contaminated by germs, or sexual or religious ideation. Compulsions are repetitive, purposeful and intentional behaviors performed in response to an obsession, such as repeated hand washing, counting, checking and touching," Joseph B. Ruffin, M.D., member of the Public Information Committee, Oklahoma Psychiatric Physicians Association, said. "Although the disorder manifests itself in many ways, all OCD sufferers share one thing in common: they recognize their behavior as irrational or senseless, but are unable to control it." Dr. Ruffin added that they also suffer from enormous shame and usually think that other people would regard them as crazy if they knew what was going on. They will keep it secret from their friends and even from their personal physician. Although a few cases have been observed in very young children, OCD commonly begins in adolescence or early adulthood, with the peak of onset occurring in the early twenties. Once considered a sentence to lifelong suffering, now obsessive-compulsive disorders are being treated more effectively than before. Nevertheless, these disorders are difficult to treat. "The exact causes of OCD are unknown," Dr. Ruffin said. "Most researchers believe this disorder is physical, it has a biochemical basis and is caused by a disturbance in the chemistry of the brain. A person who thinks he is experiencing obsessions or compulsions should see a psychiatric physician for an accurate diagnosis and treatment options." Dr. Ruffin added that psychiatric physicians have had success in treating OCD with a combination of new medications and behavior therapy. "Although not all treatments may be totally successful, the large majority of people do respond to the new medications and behavior. Since each patient is unique, treatment programs must be tailored to meet the needs of the individual." ###### |
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