Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a neurological disorder in which obsessive-compulsive symptoms such as obsessive-compulsive ideas, obsessive-compulsive impulses or obsessive-compulsive behaviors are the main manifestations, often accompanied by the pursuit of perfection, stereotypical behavior, lack of stability and security personality characteristics, with obsessive-compulsive disorder as the main clinical phase. It is characterized by the coexistence of conscious self-compulsions, and counter-compulsions, the sharp conflict between the two makes patients anxious and distressed, patients experience the idea and conflict originated from the self, although desperately resist, but can not control, most patients can recognize their compulsive ideas or compulsive behavior is non-realistic, excessive.
U.S. survey: ranked 4th among the most common mental illnesses, with a lifetime prevalence of 2.5%, and a lifetime prevalence of 2.4‰ in China, and OCD has familial aggregation, with a higher incidence than normal in people with relatives suffering from OCD in the family. Moreover, the onset of OCD is the result of a combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors. The main etiological factors and pathogenesis are neurobiological factors, psychological factors, anatomical and other factors.
Neurobiochemical factors include.
1.Heredity
2. neurobiochemical basis of OCD
3, the brain metabolic activity of OCD
Psychological factors include.
1. The psychoanalytic view that compulsive behavior is an external manifestation of defense mechanisms.
2. The behavioral theory view that compulsive behaviors are behaviors that individuals are accustomed to in order to alleviate the anxiety caused by compulsive ideas.
Anatomical view.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder may be related to abnormal basal ganglia function.
Other aspects.
1, biochemical OCD patients have abnormal 5-HT (a central neuromediator) function.
2. Brain pathology Patients with OCD may have abnormalities in neural circuits involving the frontal lobes and basal ganglia.
3, Psychological theory Behaviorist theory considers OCD as a habitual response to a specific situation.
There are several characteristics of OCD.
Adults are more likely to be female than male; adolescents are more likely to be male than female; 2/3 of patients have an onset before the age of 25, and less than 15% have an onset after the age of 35. The earliest age of onset is 2 years. Single people are more likely to develop the disease than married people. It usually takes 5-10 years for symptoms to appear before consultation.
Clinical manifestations.
The basic symptoms are obsessive-compulsive ideas, obsessive-compulsive intentions and obsessive-compulsive behaviors, accompanied by significant emotional symptoms.
The main manifestations of obsessive-compulsive concepts
1.Obsessive doubt The patient repeatedly doubts whether he/she has said or done something
2, compulsive exhaustive thinking Knowing that there is no need, but can not control the repeated thinking of some meaningless problems.
3.Obsessive oppositional thinking The patient’s mind appears an idea, and immediately appears another idea that is completely opposite to it.
4.Compulsive reminiscence What the patient has experienced appears frequently in the memory and cannot be got rid of.
The main manifestations of compulsive intention
1.Obsessive emotion The main manifestation is obsessive fear, which is the fear of losing control of one’s emotions and doing bad things.
2, compulsive intention The patient feels a strong inner urge to act immediately, but in fact does not directly convert to action.
Compulsive actions or behaviors.
1, compulsive examination Measures taken to reduce the anxiety caused by compulsion to doubt.
2, compulsive questioning Patients do not believe in themselves, repeatedly and require others to give explanations and assurances.
3.Compulsive washing Repeatedly washing hands, dishes or clothes.
4.Obsessive ritual action The patient has to do certain actions as a symbol of bad luck and bad fortune.
5.Compulsive slowness The patient’s behavior and actions are slow at the beginning of the illness, with obvious ritualistic characteristics.
Objectives of OCD treatment.
To control symptoms, improve social functioning, and improve the quality of life. Preferred medication psychotherapy. About 60-70% of patients improve their symptoms through systematic treatment, but 20-30% of patients are still ineffective and need surgical treatment.