doubt 1 a : uncertainty of belief or opinion that often interferes with decision-making b : a deliberate suspension of judgment 2 : a state of affairs giving rise to uncertainty, hesitation, or suspense 3 a : a lack of confidence : DISTRUST b : an inclination not to believe or accept dis·or·der 1 : to disturb the order of 2 : to disturb the regular or normal functions of Definitions from Merriam-Webster Dictionary

WHAT IS OCD?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), one of the anxiety disorders, is a potentially disabling condition that can persist throughout a person's life. The individual who suffers from OCD becomes trapped in a pattern of repetitive thoughts and behaviors that are senseless and distressing but extremely difficult to overcome. OCD occurs in a spectrum from mild to severe, but if severe and left untreated, can destroy a person's capacity to function at work, at school, or even in the home.

The following three case histories are typical for those who suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder--a disorder that can be effectively treated.

-- Isobel is intelligent, but she is failing her first period class in biology because she is either late to class or absent. She gets up at five o'clock, hoping to get to school on time. The next three hours are spent taking a long shower followed by changing clothes repeatedly until it "feels right." She finally packs and repacks her books until they are just right, opens the front door and prepares to walk down the front steps. She goes through a ritual of pausing on each step for a particular length of time. Even though she recognizes her thoughts and behaviors are senseless, she feels compelled to complete her rituals. Once she has completed these rituals, she makes a mad dash for school and arrives when first period is almost over.

-- Meredith's pregnancy was a time of joyous anticipation. If she had moments of trepidation about taking care of a new baby, these times passed quickly. She and her husband proudly brought a beautiful, perfect baby boy home from the hospital. Meredith bathed and fed the baby, comforted him when he was restless, and became a competent young mother. Then the obsessional thoughts began; she feared that she might harm her child. Over and over again she imagined herself stabbing the baby. She busied herself around the house, tried to think of other things, but the distressing thought persisted. She became terrified to use the kitchen knives or her sewing scissors. She knew she did not want to harm her child. Why did she have these distressing, alien thoughts?

-- During his last year at college, John became aware that he was spending more and more time preparing for classes, but he worked hard and graduated in the top ten percent of his class with a major in accounting. He accepted a position at a prestigious accounting firm in his hometown and began work with high hopes for the future. Within weeks, the firm was having second thoughts about John. Given work that should have taken two or three hours, he was going over and over the figures, checking and rechecking, spending a week or more on a task. He knew it was taking too long to get each job done, but he felt compelled to continue checking. When his probation period was over, the company let him go.

HOW COMMON IS OCD?

For many years, mental health professionals thought of OCD as a rare disease because only a small minority of their patients had the condition. The disorder often went unrecognized because many of those afflicted with OCD, in efforts to keep their repetitive thoughts and behaviors secret, failed to seek treatment. This led to underestimates of the number of people with the illness. However, a survey conducted in the early 1980s by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)--the Federal agency that supports research nationwide on the brain, mental illnesses, and mental health--provided new knowledge about the prevalence of OCD. The NIMH survey showed that OCD affects more than 2 percent of the population, meaning that OCD is more common than such severe mental illnesses as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or panic disorder. OCD strikes people of all ethnic groups. Males and females are equally affected. The social and economic costs of OCD were estimated to be $8.4 billion in 1990 (DuPont et al. 1994).

Although OCD symptoms typically begin during the teenage years or early adulthood, recent research shows that some children develop the illness at earlier ages, even during the preschool years. Studies indicate that at least one-third of cases of OCD in adults began in childhood. Suffering from OCD during early stages of a child's development can cause severe problems for the child. It is important that the child receive evaluation and treatment by a knowledgeable clinician to prevent the child from missing important opportunities because of this disorder.