Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that affects 1 in 40 people. It’s characterized by persistent, intrusive triggers (obsessions) & repetitive behaviors and/or mental acts (compulsions) that one feels driven to perform. These obsessions & compulsions can cause significant distress & interfere with daily life. And when left unchecked, OCD tends to grow with time, finding more things to obsess over & creating more complex compulsions. That said, OCD is very treatable if we use the right evidence-based treatments.

Obsessions

Obsessions are unwanted, distressing thoughts, images, feelings, sensations and/or urges
that repeatedly enter a person's mind. Common themes include:

contamination • emotional contamination • perfectionism • health/mental health

postpartum/perinatal • relationship • sexual/gender orientation • existential

just right • symmetry • perfectionism • real event/false memory • harm

religious/moral • sensorimotor • harm • pedophile • hyper-responsibility

Compulsions

Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental rituals performed to reduce the anxiety caused by obsessions. Common compulsions include:

checking • cleaning • counting • ordering • tapping • researching • ruminating • confessing • praying

apologizing • mental reviewing • reassurance-seeking • self-punishment • thought blocking/neutralization

Causes & Risk Factors

The exact cause of OCD is unknown, but factors that may contribute include:

  • Genetics: A family history of OCD may increase the risk.

  • Brain Structure & Functioning: Differences in certain areas of the brain, particularly those involved in decision-making & impulse control.

  • Environmental Factors: Stressful life events, trauma, or learned behaviors may trigger or worsen symptoms.

Treatment Options

OCD is a chronic condition that can be managed with the right interventions:

  • Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): specifically, Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP) is highly effective - 80%+ find relief from ERP.

  • Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): additionally, Inference-Based CBT (ICBT) is a newer treatment that can works for some - it is still being studied so is not evidence-base quite yet, but there are useful elements that can be pulled into treatment.

  • Medications: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Fluoxetine, Sertraline, or Fluvoxamine.

  • Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) or Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS): Used in severe, treatment-resistant cases as a last resort.

OCD can be debilitating, but with the right treatment & support, many people can manage their symptoms & live fulfilling lives.