It is possible to get the diagnosis without having both components. In simple terms, obsessive thinking is "thinking too much" about things.
A compulsion is an action you do in order to stop the obsessive thinking. An example is someone who compulsively washes their hands.
This person may obsess about germs or dirt. In order to stop these thoughts, they wash their hands.
When the thoughts return, they wash their hands again. These compulsive actions can become ritualized.
OCD is presently treated with antidepressant medications and cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy. Some research suggests that outcomes are better if both of these techniques are employed.
The disorder was not always understood in this way. It used to be thought of as involving intra-psychic conflict, but the modern DSM-IV sees the condition as having complex biological and psychological origins.
Obsessions as defined by recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that are experienced, at some time during the disturbance, as intrusive and inappropriate and that cause marked anxiety or distress. The thoughts, impulses, or images are not simply excessive worries about real-life problems.
The person attempts to ignore or suppress such thoughts, impulses, or images, or to neutralize them with some other thought or action. The person recognizes that the obsessive thoughts, impulses, or images are a product of his or her own mind.
Compulsions are defined as repetitive behaviors or mental acts that the person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession, or according to rules that must be applied rigidly. The behaviors or mental acts are aimed at preventing or reducing distress or preventing some dreaded event or situation.
These behaviors or mental acts, however, either are not connected in a realistic way with what they are designed to neutralize or prevent or are clearly excessive. At some point during the course of the behaviors, the person has recognized that the obsessions or compulsions are excessive or unreasonable.
The obsessions or compulsions cause marked distress, are time consuming, or significantly interfere with the person's normal routine, occupational functioning, or usual social activities or relationships. If another disorder is present, the content of the obsessions or compulsions is not restricted to it.
The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance or a general medical condition. Some compulsive behaviors have their own diagnosis.
Trichotillomania is the name for compulsive hair-pulling. To make things even more interesting, there is another disorder with a name that is confusingly similar to OCD.
Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder could be thought of as a milder, but more longstanding version of OCD -- but that's not quite right. Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) looks entirely different from OCD at first glance.
OCPD is a pervasive pattern of preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and mental and interpersonal control. These symptoms are at the expense of flexibility, openness, and efficiency, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts.
People with this disorder are preoccupied with details, rules, lists, order, organization, or schedules to the extent that the major point of the activity is lost. They show perfectionism that interferes with task completion.
They are excessively devoted to work and productivity to the exclusion of leisure activities and friendships. They are also over conscientious, scrupulous, and inflexible about matters of morality, ethics, or values.
Some are unable to discard worn-out or worthless objects even when they have no sentimental value. They can also be reluctant to delegate tasks or to work with others unless they submit to exactly his or her way of doing things.
A common symptom is adopting a miserly spending style toward both self and others; money is viewed as something to be hoarded for future catastrophes. Like all personality disorders, OCPD can be thought of as an extreme exaggeration of a certain personality style.
Many of us likely know someone who is somewhat like this. It is only a personality disorder when it is so extreme that it gets in the way of daily life.
Psychotherapy and medications are used to treat OCD and trichotillomania. Psychotherapy can also be helpful to treat obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.
Author Resource:-
Jack R. Landry has worked as a nurse practitioner for the last 16 years. He has worked in local clinics and the ER and recommends looking into high blood pressure cure to avoid a fatal heart attack.
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