Risk Factors and Causes of OCD

Written by HealthyPlace.com Staff Writer

Detailed info on risk factors for obsessive-compulsive disorder and causes of OCD. Info on women with OCD and postpartum OCD.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can be a debilitating disorder with the following two anxiety-related essential features:

• Obsessions: undesirable, recurrent, disturbing thoughts
• Compulsions: repetitive or ritualized behaviors

People with OCD experience unwanted obsessions, which cause anxiety. Severe anxiety produces feelings of dread, worry, fright, and apprehension (see generalized anxiety disorder GAD). Certain behaviors are performed compulsively in an attempt to lessen this anxiety. Although they realize their obsessions are excessive and their behavior is unreasonable, they feel powerless to control either. In fact, their symptoms can overwhelm them and result in severe impairment and dysfunction, which can begin at an early age.

Though its course is chronic and usually lasts a lifetime, it is treatable with medication, behavioral therapy, and, in extremely rare cases, brain surgery.

Risk Factors for OCD

Risk factors for obsessive-compulsive disorder include the following:

• Genetics
• Postpartum periods
• Environmental stressors

Although there is no clear genetic evidence, obsessive-compulsive disorder tends to run in families. A person with OCD has a 25% chance of having a blood relative who has it. Like other mental illnesses, it is more prevalent among identical twins than fraternal. There is a 70% chance that identical twins with share it, and a 50% chance for fraternal twins. Currently, researchers do not understand OCD's genetic mechanisms, though they suspect multiple genes are involved.

Women with OCD may experience a worsening of symptoms during pregnancy and postpartum. A recent study suggests that fluctuating hormones may trigger symptoms during pregnancy. The same study reports OCD in 30% of women observed.

The arrival of a baby brings new responsibility, a new set of concerns, and changes in routine. While normal reaction to a newborn may include some anxiety, postpartum OCD features disturbing thoughts and excessive behavior regarding the baby's well-being. The following obsessions and compulsions are common:

Obsessions

• Fear of contaminating the baby
• Need for reassurances
• Recurrent fear for the baby's safety
• Recurrent thoughts of bad mothering
• Recurrent thoughts of harming baby
• "Thoughts of disturbed order"

Compulsions

• Repeatedly washing the baby
• Repetitively calling the physician
• Incessantly checking the baby
• Incessantly checking the baby
• Avoiding or neglecting the baby
• Ordering and rearranging baby's crib

These feelings and behaviors may occur immediately, but often begin 4 to 6 weeks after giving birth. Treatment is necessary to control symptoms and to ensure care of the baby.