Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders

Obsessions

recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges, or images that are intrusive and unwanted, and cause anxiety or distress

Compulsions

repetitive behaviors or mental acts aimed at preventing or reducing anxiety or distress

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Disorder characterized by overwhelming obsessions and compulsions that are time consuming (+1 hour/day), distressing, or impairing functioning

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Worry about perceived defects or flaws in physical appearance that are not observable or appear slight to others. This causes related repetitive behaviors/mental acts with symptoms that are distressing or impair functioning.

Hoarding Disorder

Characterized by the significant difficulty of getting rid of possessions and the perceived need to save items and distress associated with discarding them. Possessions often accumulate and congest and clutter active living area.

Trichotillomania

recurrent pulling out one’s hair, resulting in hair loss

Excoriation Disorder

recurrent skin picking resulting in skin lesions

Biological Etiologies

Genetics (OCD and trichotillomania) and Brain circuits and neurotransmitters (hygiene and habit areas and low levels of serotonin)

Psychological Etiologies

Operant condition, thought-action fusion

Thought-action fusion

when you believe that simply thinking about an action is equivalent to completing that action

Sociological Etiologies and Risk Factors

High religiosity and Trauma and Stress (emotional abuse, neglect, bullying)

Biological Treatment

SSRIs and Psychosurgery (cingulotomy)

Sociological Treatment

Bullying prevention and Health Services (For Hoarding)

Psychological Treatment

CBT, Exposure and Ritual Prevention, Habit Reversal training

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Treatment

Exposure and Ritual Prevention, SSRIs

Body Dysmorphic Disorder Treatments

Exposure and Ritual Prevention, SSRIs (b)

Hoarding Disorder Treatment

CBT

Trichotillomania

Habit Reversal Training, SSRIs

Excoriation Disorder

Habit Reversal training