Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental disorder that is defined by obsessive, distressing thoughts and repetitive, ritualistic activities. Because symptoms of OCD might be identical to those of obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, anxiety disorders, depression, schizophrenia, or other mental health illnesses, OCD diagnosis can be challenging. Therefore, choose a trusted doctor to ensure that you receive the proper diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible.
OCD causes many negative effects on both mental and physical health. Below are impacts that you may suffer from when you get OCD:
People with OCD are under a great deal of stress because they have a strong desire to carry out their routines correctly. In long term, the stress and tiredness associated with doing the rituals for hours each day can lead to heart disease and ulcers. Those who wash their hands more than often per day have a higher probability of significant skin sores and infections.
Therefore, it is critical to diagnose OCD since a correct diagnosis can help patients find the best cure for their problems. The OCD treatments take a lot of time so the sooner OCD is recognized, the faster you recover from this disease. If you ignore OCD diagnosis, your life is impossible to be back to normal.
This can be the first-line way you think about checking OCD symptoms. Some online tests might help you understand the symptoms of OCD and determine whether your symptoms are severe enough.
The Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) is the current gold standard for using a questionnaire to diagnose OCD. It assesses the degree and kind of symptoms experienced by persons with OCD. Obsessions and compulsions are among the symptoms evaluated.
However, you should not depend on only this method to make a conclusion in your illness condition which is vital to be diagnosed by professional doctors.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association, may be used to diagnose OCD. In the description for OCD, the DSM-5 diagnosis highlights common symptoms which must meet both the general and specific characteristics of obsessive-compulsive disorder:
General criteria
You must get obsessions and compulsions in your life.
Obsessions and compulsions must have a major influence on your day-to-day activities.
Your obsessions and compulsions may or may not be excessive or irrational, and you may or may not know it.
Obsession criteria
Thoughts, desires, or images that are intrusive, repeated, and persistent and create distress
The ideas aren’t merely excessively focused on real-life issues.
You’ve tried and failed to avoid or dismiss the troubling ideas, desires, or pictures.
You may or may not realize that these ideas are only generated by your mind and do not have any risks.
Compulsion criteria
Excessive and repetitive ritualistic action that you feel obligated to engage in or face negative consequences. Hand washing, counting, quiet mental processes, and checking door locks are just a few examples.
The ritualistic compulsions consume at least one hour and more every day.
To relieve the intense anxiety induced by obsessive thoughts, you conduct certain physical routines or mental activities.
A complete blood count (CBC) helps healthcare providers detect a range of disorders and conditions. CBC shows abnormal increases or reductions in cell counts may suggest that you have an underlying medical problem that needs to be evaluated further.
However, there are no specific blood tests to diagnose OCD until now.
According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), “Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disorder in which people have recurring, unwanted thoughts, ideas or sensations (obsessions) that make them feel driven to do something repetitively (compulsions). The repetitive behaviors, such as hand washing, checking on things or cleaning, can significantly interfere with a person’s daily activities and social interactions.”
No. People with OCD have more commonplace, unsatisfying compulsions, such as repetitive and stereotyped checking, counting, sorting, or cleaning, which never begin to be enjoyable and create severe worry and disorder.
Unlike obsessions and compulsions such as sex, gambling, drugs, alcohol, they begin as delightful hobbies with no worry or dread of repercussions, and hence would never be considered OCD.
Yes. Some people may be able to recover from OCD with correct assistance and treatment. Time of rehabilitation differs from person to person; for some, it’s a lifelong journey, while for others, it’s a single destination. That’s why you should get a deep understanding of your own illness to get timely and right treatments.
OCD runs in families and genes are likely to have a part in the disorder’s development. However, genes appear to be only partially responsible for the condition, and it is assumed that a mix of genetic vulnerability and environmental factors is more likely.
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