Obsessive Compulsive

Disorder

By Matthew Mohandiss

What is OCD?

OCD is characterized by

repetitive thoughts or actions,

called compulsions, that control

someone's life in a destructive

way.

Neurotransmitters

The problem is with the neurotransmitter, Serotonin,

which is overactive and causes obsessive

compulsive disorder.

Medication

SSRI’s (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) help

to control OCD by stopping the reuptake of serotonin

in the synaptic gaps of the brain.

Therapy

Various types of therapy can help to reduce the

effects of obsessive compulsive disorder. These

include group therapy and individual therapy.

Symptoms

Symptoms include:

• Repetitive unwanted thoughts

• Repetitive unwanted actions

• Other anxiety problems

• Fear that something is going terribly wrong unless

a certain action is preformed

OCD Cycle

People with obsessive compulsive disorder often get

into a repetitive cycle that reinforces

obsessive/compulsive behavior or thoughts

Societal Aspects

Many people think people with OCD are just neat

freaks, but OCD is a crippling mental disorder that

severely disrupts many peoples lives.

Who is at Risk

OCD has not been proven to run directly through

generations and should start by age 19. OCD affects

around 2.2 million Americans at some point during

their lifetime.

Sources

• http://whatculture.com/offbeat/20-pics-give-ocd-nightmares.php/4

• http://iocdf.org/expert-opinions/expert-opinion-glutamate/

• http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/index.shtml#part4

• http://iocdf.org/about-ocd/

• http://www.health.harvard.edu/fhg/updates/treating-obsessive-compulsive-disorder.shtml