Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder manifest in obsession or compulsions. OCD has become one of the words bandied around when people are perfectionists. It is not the same thing: OCD is specifically an anxiety disorder where people have unwanted and repeated thoughts, feelings, ideas, sensations (obsessions), or behaviours that make them feel driven to do something (compulsions). Obsessions or compulsions that are not due to medical illness or drug use and can cause major distress or interfere with everyday life.

There are many types of obsessions and compulsions. One example is an excessive fear of germs and the compulsion to repeatedly wash the hands to ward off infection. Some people don’t like to touch handles or the buttons on lifts. Compulsions can also be manifest in repeatedly checking that all the doors are locked or that the stove is off. The person usually recognizes that the behaviour is excessive or unreasonable, but this does not mean that they have control over it.

There are several medications that can help OCD specifically SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) like Citalopram (Celexa), Fluoxetine (Prozac), Fluvoxamine (Luvox), Paroxetine (Paxil) and Sertraline (Zoloft).

Talk therapy is also helpful, specifically Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), which has been shown to be the most effective type of psychotherapy for this disorder. The patient is exposed many times to a situation that triggers the obsessive thoughts, and learns gradually to tolerate the anxiety and resist the urge to perform the compulsion.

Psychotherapy can also be used to provide effective ways of reducing stress, reduce anxiety and resolve inner conflicts

A new type or therapy called Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) or Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) has shown tremendous results as an effective treatment for OCD. The goal is to reduce anxiety by learning formal meditative practices, which calm anxiety and then apply these lessons to everyday situations. For more information contact CyberShrink.

OCD is a long-term (chronic) illness with periods of severe symptoms followed by times of improvement. However, a completely symptom-free period is unusual. Most people improve with treatment.