Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a lifelong anxiety disorder that is manifested in many forms. Most commonly, it is characterized by person's obsessive thoughts and fears (which can be repetitive, distressing, and intrusive) and related compulsions (tasks or rituals) which attempt to neutralize the obsessions. All people engage in these types of behavior to a certain extent (e.g. counting steps as we walk up them, double-checking to make sure we've turned off the oven or locked the door), but for a person with OCD, such behaviors are so greatly exaggerated that they interfere with relationships and day-to-day functioning at school or work.

Modern research has revealed that OCD is much more common than it was previously thought: an estimated 1 in 50 adolescents and adults (roughly 2-3% of the population) is thought to have OCD, making it almost as common as asthma and diabetes. In most cases, OCD occurs in childhood and adolescence. Although the disorder occurs equally among adults of both genders, among children it is three times more common in boys than girls.

Typically, those who suffer from OCD perform tasks (or compulsions) to seek relief from obsessions. To others, these tasks may appear odd and unnecessary, but for the sufferer, such tasks can feel critically important. Some common manifestations of OCD (among many others) include excessive "double-checking," frequently arranging things, repeatedly washing and cleaning, and mindlessly repeating certain words and phrases. In effect, some of the physical symptoms that can result from the obsessions include dermatitis, skin lesions, and hair loss.

While there is no known specific cause for OCD, family history and chemical imbalances in the brain are thought to contribute to the development of the illness. Generally, while people who have relatives with OCD are at a higher risk of developing the disorder, most people with the illness have no such family history. Scientists have found a specific chromosome/gene variation that can double the likelihood of a person developing OCD. It is thought that an imbalance of the chemical serotonin (which is known as the brain's