1. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Lizzie Lohrer

2. What is it?  Also known as OCD  Unreasonable thoughts and/or repetitive behaviors  Trying to suppress or stop these behaviors can lead to stress and anxiety until the behavior is completed  It can effect all ages but is commonly diagnosed in late teenage years or early adulthood or between the ages of 8 and 12  There are about as many children suffering from OCD as there are suffering from diabetes  PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections) is when the symptoms appear in a child seemingly overnight and can have a severe impact on the child’s life

3. Symptoms  1/3 of OCD people experience tics  Obsessions such as fear of dirt/germs, having everything in order, etc. are thoughts or images that replay in the patient’s mind and cause anxiety until they are able to complete an action to avoid the fear  Ex: People with the fear of germs will wash their hands so much they often get chapped and dry  Compulsions are the actions the patient takes to neutralize or delete the cause of the obsession  Ex: Counting, cleaning, following strict routine, etc.  NOT perfectionism  Perfectionists have issues with real problems in their lives such as having certain things arranged just right, while a person suffering from OCD doesn’t want to take the “necessary” actions but feels as though they have to and it takes over their lives

4. Causes  The causes aren’t fully known  One theory is that it’s the result of changes in chemicals in your brain  Another theory is that it is genetic but specific genes for OCD have not yet been found  Some environmental factors may contribute to OCD  Having family members with the disorder is believed to increase your risk of obtaining OCD  Traumatic and stressful events may also increase your risk  There is no way of preventing OCD, but getting an early diagnosis will help you live a better quality life

5. Complications  There are also many other issues that people with OCD may experience such as:  Difficulty doing school work  Anxiety disorders  Eating disorders  Depression  Alcoholism  Problems with relationships  Suicidal thoughts or actions  and more

6. What to do if you think you have OCD  Write a list of symptoms you are experiencing even if they seem unrelated  Make a note of any major life changes or events  Make a list of all medications you take as well as the dosages  If the doctor suspects you may have OCD, you can expect to experience a physical exam, lab tests such as alcohol screening and blood counts, and psychological evaluation  Keep in mind it can be hard to diagnose patients because OCD’s symptoms are similar to obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and other mental illnesses

7. Treatments  No treatment is said to actually cure OCD, but rather bring your symptoms under control  Psychotherapy: exposure and response therapy brings you in contact with your fear or obsession and helps you learn healthy ways of dealing with the situations you encounter; cognitive behavior therapy  Medication: normally antidepressants, keep in mind side effects and try different medications  For patients who don’t respond to either, deep brain stimulation may be utilized, though it has not been thoroughly tested  Typically treated through outpatient facilities

8. What careers may be involved?  Psychiatrist  Psychologist  Pharmacist  Your family doctor  Phlebotomist  Therapist

9. Hereditary diseases in my family  My family does not have any known hereditary diseases that run in the family. The only repetitive hereditary occurrence is that its common to have twins every other generation.

10. Works Cited  "Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD)." Definition. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.  "What Is OCD?" International OCD Foundation. N.p., 28 Apr. 2014. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.  "Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, OCD." NIMH RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.  "OCD in Children and Adults: Symptoms, Causes, and More." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.