Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder Research by : Paola Salcedo & Angelica Soriano

What is OCD ? OCD an anxiety disorder characterized by intrusive thoughts that produce uneasiness, apprehension, fear, or worry.

Diagnostic Criteria You must have either obsessions or compulsions or both which are present on most days for a period of at least 2 weeks. Recurrent, persistent and unwelcome thoughts. Repetitive behavior that you feel driven to perform such as hand-washing, or repetitive mental acts, such as counting silently.

Diagnostic Features Recurrent obsessions or compulsions that are severe enough to be time consuming. The most common obsessions are repeated thoughts about contamination, repeated doubts, and a need to have things in a particular order. The individual with obsessions usually attempts to ignore or suppress such thoughts or impulses or to neutralize them with some other thought or action. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors (e.g., hand washing, ordering, checking) or mental acts (e.g., praying, counting, repeating words silently) the goal of which is to prevent or reduce anxiety or distress, not to provide pleasure or gratification.

Prevalence OCD affects approximately 1 in 100 children. Community studies have estimated a lifetime prevalence of 2.5% and a 1-year prevalence of 0.5%–2.1% in adults. Community studies of children and adolescents have estimated a lifetime prevalence of 1%– 2.3% and a 1-year prevalence of 0.7%.

Development and Course Some patients may develop OCD with obsessions and compulsions. Patients may have trouble adjusting to new routines. If anxiety disorders are left untreated, which they often are, symptoms can become increasingly worse.

Culture-Related Diagnostic Issues/Gender Features Late adolescence seems to be the time when people are at the greatest risk for developing OCD. Males are at greater risk for developing childhood OCD. Although, during puberty the risk of developing OCD for males and females is about the same. About 50% of your risk for developing OCD is determined by your genes.

Risks & Prognostic Factors These factors increase your chance of getting OCPD; Stressful life events Having parents or other family members with the disorder can increase your risk of developing OCD. Having another form of mental illness Being unemployed Lower socioeconomic status Marital status

Differential Diagnosis It's sometimes difficult to diagnose OCD because symptoms can be similar to those of obsessive- compulsive personality disorder, anxiety disorders, depression, schizophrenia or other mental illnesses. Patient having true obsessions and compulsions.

Case Study Charles Darwin Born: February 12, 1809 The Mount, Shrewsbury, United Kingdom Died: April 19, 1882, Down House, United Kingdom His health problem began when he was only 16 years old. He suffered from OCD as well as agoraphobia. He had various obsessional thoughts and how he could not get away from them. Darwin craved reassurance from others and believed his children would inherence his kind of illness. Charles Darwin lived with his wife, children and servants in Down House, a Georgian manor 15 miles south of London in the Kent countryside, for 40 years—from 1842 to 1882.

Group’s Perspective We believe that the biological perspective causes Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder because they are both more likely to be transmitted by genetic inheritance.