Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common anxiety disorder. It causes unreasonable thoughts, fears, or worries. A person with OCD tries to manage ... SkipNavigation COVID-19Updates Masksarerequiredinsideallofourcarefacilities.Wearevaccinatingalleligiblepatients.Learnmore: Vaccines,Boosters&AdditionalDoses|Testing|PatientCare|VisitorGuidelines|Coronavirus|EmailAlerts FindmoreCOVID-19testinglocationsonMaryland.gov. Health ConditionsandDiseases Obsessive-CompulsiveDisorder(OCD) ShareonFacebook ShareonTwitter ShareonLinkedin ShareonPinterest ShareviaEmail PrintthisPage MentalandBehavioralHealth AnxietyDisorders Whatisobsessive-compulsivedisorder?Obsessive-compulsivedisorder(OCD)isacommonanxietydisorder.Itcausesunreasonablethoughts,fears,orworries.ApersonwithOCDtriestomanagethesethoughtsthroughrituals.Frequentdisturbingthoughtsorimagesarecalledobsessions.Theyareirrationalandcancausegreatanxiety.Reasoningdoesn’thelpcontrolthethoughts.Ritualsorcompulsionsareactionsthathelpstoporeasetheobsessivethoughts.WhatcausesOCD?Expertsaren’tsureoftheexactcauseofOCD.Genetics,brainabnormalities,andtheenvironmentarethoughttoplayarole.Itoftenstartsintheteensorearlyadulthood.But,itcanalsostartinchildhood.OCDaffectsmenandwomenequally.Itappearstoruninfamilies.Otheranxietyproblems,depression,eatingdisorders,orsubstanceabusemayhappenwithOCD.WhatarethesymptomsofOCD?Obsessionsareunfoundedthoughts,fears,orworries.Theyhappenoftenandcausegreatanxiety.Reasoningdoesnothelpcontroltheobsessions.Commonobsessionsare:AstrongfixationwithdirtorgermsRepeateddoubts(forexample,abouthavingturnedoffthestove)AneedtohavethingsinaveryspecificorderThoughtsaboutviolenceorhurtingsomeoneSpendinglongperiodsoftimetouchingthingsorcountingFixationwithorderorsymmetryPersistentthoughtsofawfulsexualactsTroubledbythoughtsthatareagainstpersonalreligiousbeliefsWhileyoumayknowthatthethoughtsareunreasonableandnotduetoreal-lifeproblems,it’snotenoughtomaketheunwantedthoughtsgoaway.Compulsionsarerepetitive,ritualizedacts.Theyaremeanttoreduceanxietycausedbytheobsession(s).Examplesare:Repeatedhand-washing(often100+timesaday)CheckingandrecheckingtomakesurethatadoorislockedorthattheovenisturnedoffforexampleFollowingrigidrulesoforder,suchas,puttingonclothesinthesameordereachday,oralphabetizingthespices,andgettingupsetiftheorderbecomesdisruptedCompulsiveactscanbecomeexcessive,disruptive,andtime-consuming.Theymayinterferewithdailylifeandrelationships.Peoplemayavoidsituationsinwhichtheymighthavetofacetheirobsessions.Sometryalcoholordrugstocalmthemselves.HowisOCDdiagnosed?OCDisdiagnosedduringaphysicalandpsychiatricexamwhenobsessionsandcompulsions:     TakeupatleastonehoureachdayAredistressingInterferewithdailylifeAlwaysseeyourhealthcareproviderforadiagnosis.HowisOCDtreated?Yourhealthcareproviderwillfigureoutthebesttreatmentbasedon:HowoldyouareYouroverallhealthandmedicalhistoryHowsickyouareHowwellyoucanhandlespecificmedicines,procedures,ortherapiesHowlongtheconditionisexpectedtolastYouropinionorpreferenceTreatmentmayinclude:Anti-anxietyorantidepressantmedicinesareoftenused.Cognitivebehavioraltherapycanalsohelp.KeypointsaboutOCDOCDisacommoncondition.Itcausespersistentdisturbingthoughtsandcompulsiveritualsthatattempttoeaseanxiety.Theritualsbecomeconsumingandinterruptdailylife.StressfuleventsmaytriggertheOCDepisodesormakethemworse.Youmayormaynothaveinsightintotheirrationalthoughtsorbehaviors.Medicinesandtherapycanhelpreducethetimespentinthethoughtpatternsorcompulsivebehaviors.Treatmentismostsuccessfulwhenbothareused.NextstepsTipstohelpyougetthemostfromavisittoyourhealthcareprovider:Knowthereasonforyourvisitandwhatyouwanttohappen.Beforeyourvisit,writedownquestionsyouwantanswered.Bringsomeonewithyoutohelpyouaskquestionsandrememberwhatyourprovidertellsyou.Atthevisit,writedownthenameofanewdiagnosis,andanynewmedicines,treatments,ortests.Alsowritedownanynewinstructionsyourprovidergivesyou.Knowwhyanewmedicineortreatmentisprescribed,andhowitwillhelpyou.Alsoknowwhatthesideeffectsare.Askifyourconditioncanbetreatedinotherways.Knowwhyatestorprocedureisrecommendedandwhattheresultscouldmean.Knowwhattoexpectifyoudonottakethemedicineorhavethetestorprocedure.Ifyouhaveafollow-upappointment,writedownthedate,time,andpurposeforthatvisit.Knowhowyoucancontactyourproviderifyouhavequestions. FindaDoctor SpecializingIn: Deconditioning AnxietyDisorders ChildandAdolescentPsychiatry ChildDevelopmentandBehavioralHealth SeeMore AtAnotherJohnsHopkinsMemberHospital: HowardCountyGeneralHospital SibleyMemorialHospital SuburbanHospital FindaTreatmentCenter ChildandAdolescentPsychiatry AnxietyDisordersClinicatJohnsHopkinsBayview FindAdditionalTreatmentCentersat: HowardCountyGeneralHospital SibleyMemorialHospital SuburbanHospital Related GeneralizedAnxietyDisorder PosttraumaticStressDisorder(PTSD) Phobias PanicDisorder RequestanAppointment FindaDoctor 410-955-5000 Maryland 855-695-4872 OutsideofMaryland +1-410-502-7683 International FindaDoctor SeeMore Related Anxietydisorders GeneralizedAnxietyDisorder Post-TraumaticStressDisorder(PTSD) PosttraumaticStressDisorder(PTSD) Phobias Phobias RelatedTopics MentalandBehavioralHealth AnxietyDisorders