Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder:

In the mental illness called obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), a person becomes trapped in a pattern of repetitive thoughts and behaviors that are senseless and distressing but extremely difficult to overcome. If OCD becomes severe enough, it can destroy a person's capacity to function in the home, at work, or at school. That is why it is important to learn about the disorder and the treatments that are now available.

OCD is characterized by:

unwanted ideas or impulses that repeatedly well up in the victim's mind to cope with their anxiety, most people resort to repetitive behaviors called compulsions. The most common of these are washing and checking. Generally, people with OCD know that their obsessive thoughts are senseless, but can not stop themselves People with OCD generally try to hide their problem rather than seek help for it a person is not considered to have OCD unless the obsessions and compulsive behaviors are extreme enough to interfere with daily life. OCD tends to last for years, even decades, although symptoms may become less severe from time to time.

Treatment: A combination of behavioral therapy and medication is often helpful for most people with OCD. Several medications that have been found effective in treating OCD are clomipramine, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine and paroxetine.

Questions Email Us

Mental Health America of Augusta

This site was created by
Marsh Data Systems
Questions or comments about this site

Contact our Webmaster