Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Brain & Behaviors Disorder

OCD Causes

Biological

Biological

Some of the causes identified for OCD include changes in the brain or natural chemistry.

Stressors

Stressors

Major stressors or traumatic events are also sometimes considered causes of this disorder. In some cases, these stressors act as triggers for the predisposed disorder. Depression is sometimes observed as a cause or result of OCD.

Psychodynamic Perspective

Psychodynamic Perspective

The psychodynamic perspective has been made responsible for the fixations and conflicts of early life to be the cause of this disorder.

Behavioral Model

Behavioral Model

According to this model, OCD is a result of the human body’s biological and evolutionary leaning to suppress primitive actions. A brain circuit in the orbitofrontal cortex fires, and send impulses to direct attention towards actions, and when the actions are completed, the impulse lowers downs its intensity.

Disorder Types
Four D’s

Dysfunctional

Dysfunctional

It is often observed that people with OCD find difficulty in completing their daily tasks especially those who do not follow their routine, this also causes hindrance for people living with them as they may be interfering in the routine.

Distress

Distress

In OCD if the routines are not followed and if any change is made, it becomes a source of great distress for the person suffering from the disorder.

Deviant

Deviant

The routine lifestyle found in those with OCD is highly different from that found in general social convention.

Dangerous

Dangerous

Suicidal thoughts as a result of depression are also commonly observed in OCD. Depression can result in social isolation and causes serious health problems.

Medication

Medication

The treatments of the disorder include medications which include anti-anxiety and antidepressants which are used to control the symptoms associated with the disorder.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy

Cognitive Behavior Therapy

This is an amalgam of two evidence-based therapies. We look at the cognitive and behavioral part of the disorder for the management. As in OCD thoughts are directly linked to behavioral consequences so by changing the thinking patterns we can find alternative means to respond to those thoughts.

Exposure & Response Prevention

Exposure & Response Prevention

This approach is a part of behavioral therapy which is actually about letting the person face the fear in a controlled environment and then refraining the client from performing the ritual. The logic behind this treatment is that the learned fear will disappear as the person realizes that no harm results by actually facing them and hence the anxiety disappears.

Relaxation Exercises

Relaxation Exercises

Deep breathing is diaphragmatic breathing that sends very strong relaxation signals to the brain which turns down the physiological arousal and stress level. This exercise reduces heart rate, lowers down blood pressure, and promotes a calm state. On the other hand mindfulness meditation is the practice of noticing thoughts without judging or pushing them away.