How common is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)? Until recently, OCD was considered a rare ailment. Findings from a large survey suggest that 2 to 3 percent of the population (roughly five million Americans) may suffer from OCD ...

The modern era in the pharmacotherapy of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) began in the late 1960s with the observation that clomipramine, not other tricyclic antidepressants such as imipramine (Tofranil), was effective in treating OCD. Clomipramine is ...

Some conditions have been referred to as Obsessive-compulsive (OC) spectrum disorders on the basis of clinical similarities to OCD (i.e., recurrent disturbing ideas and/or irresistible urges), higher than expected co-occurrence with OCD and favorable response ...

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) usually begins in adolescence or young adulthood and is seen in as many as one in 200 children and adolescents. OCD is characterized by recurrent obsessions and/or compulsions that are intense enough ...

Contamination Obsessions Concern with dirt or germs. Excessive concern with environmental contaminants. Examples: asbestos, radiation, pesticides or toxic waste. Excessive concern with household items. Examples: cleansers, solvents. Concern or disgust with bodily waste or secretions. Examples: urine, feces or ...

OCD can be relentless. If untreated, OCD is usually chronic and follows a waxing and waning course. That is, symptoms may get somewhat better for months or even years, only to get worse again before ...

Before the late 1960s, OCD was generally considered unresponsive to a range of conventional therapies. Traditional talk therapy based on psychoanalytic principles was rarely successful in reducing the severity of obsessions or compulsions. Understanding and ...

There is no reliable diagnostic test for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The diagnosis is usually based on a thorough face-to-face interview conducted by an experienced mental health professional. Perhaps someday, as we learn more about the ...

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an illness that affects thoughts and actions and is believed to be rooted in a biochemical imbalance of the brain. OCD is classified as an anxiety disorder in the Diagnostic and ...

Much of the confusion in the professional and lay literature regarding the differences between OCD and other conditions stems from the many different uses of the words obsession and compulsion. To be true symptoms of ...

The OCD Workbook: Your Guide to Breaking Free from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Obsessive-compulsive disorder is characterized by the presence of recurrent, intrusive thoughts, impulses, or images (obsessions) or repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions). Symptoms include ...

Stop Obsessing!: How to Overcome Your Obsessions and Compulsions Do you have obsessive-compulsive disorder? Regain control over your life. If you find yourself tormented by unwanted, disturbing thoughts or compelled to perform rigidly set action to ...

Getting Control: Overcoming Your Obsessions and Compulsions An internationally known expert and Harvard Medical School professor offers an up-to-date guide for treating Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Six million Americans suffer from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and they know firsthand ...