Is OCD on the Rise?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health disorder that affects people of all ages and walks of life. OCD involves obsessions, which are recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that are intrusive and cause distress or anxiety. These obsessions lead to compulsions, which are repetitive behaviors or mental acts that the person feels driven to perform in order to relieve the obsessive thoughts.
OCD is characterized by obsessions and compulsions that are time-consuming and significantly interfere with the person’s normal routine, school/work functioning, or relationships. The thoughts, impulses, or images are not simply excessive worries about real-life problems; they are intrusive and cause stress. The person recognizes that the obsessions are irrational, but he or she cannot control them.
The compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts that the person feels driven to perform in order to relieve the obsessive thoughts. The compulsions are not satisfying and often are unpleasant. However, the person feels relief from the anxiety only when the compulsion is carried out.
For example, a person who is obsessed with germs may feel compelled to wash his hands over and over again throughout the day; a person who is obsessed with being late may feel compelled to check her watch or clock constantly; a person who is obsessed with symmetry may feel compelled to arrange objects in a certain way.
What causes OCD?
The exact cause of OCD is unknown, but it is thought to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Obsessive-compulsive disorder usually begins in childhood or adolescence, although it can start in adulthood. OCD often runs in families, which suggests that there may be a genetic component to the disorder. However, not everyone with a family member who has OCD will develop the disorder themselves. In addition, many people with OCD do not have any close relatives with the disorder.
Therefore, other factors must also be involved. Some research suggests that abnormalities in certain brain structures or neurotransmitters may play a role in the development of OCD. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that transmit messages between nerve cells (neurons) in the brain. The most studied neurotransmitter in relation to OCD is serotonin. Serotonin levels are thought to be low in people with OCD, but it is unclear whether this is a cause or effect of the disorder.
What are the Risk Factors for Developing OCD?
There are several risk factors that may increase a person’s chance of developing OCD:
• Family history:
People with first-degree relatives (parents, siblings, children) who have OCD are more likely to develop the disorder themselves. This suggests that there may be a genetic component to OCD. However, not everyone with a family member who has OCD will develop the disorder themselves. In addition, many people with OCD do not have any close relatives with the disorder. Therefore, other factors must also be involved.
• Age:
The onset of OCD is typically in childhood or adolescence, although it can start in adulthood. Children as young as 3 years old have been known to experience obsessions and compulsions.
• Gender:
Both men and women are equally likely to develop OCD. This mental health disorder affects approximately 2% of Americans (about 1 in 40 adults and 1 in 100 children). It occurs across all cultures and socioeconomic groups and affects men, women, and children equally.
Why are more and more people being diagnosed with OCD now?
There are a number of possible explanations for why OCD may be on the rise:
• Increased awareness:
OCD is now more widely recognized than it was in the past, so more people may be seeking help for the disorder. In addition, mental health professionals are better trained to identify and diagnose OCD.
• Changes in society:
The increased pace and stress of modern life may play a role in the development of OCD. In addition, our increasingly “connected” world (e.g., social media, 24-hour news cycles) may contribute to OCD anxiety and intrusive thoughts.
In the past, mental health disorders were often seen as taboo subjects. People with OCD may have been reluctant to seek help because they feared being labeled as “crazy” or “weird.” However, society’s attitude towards mental health has changed in recent years and people are now more open to seeking treatment for OCD and other mental health disorders.
• Improved access to care:
With the advent of online resources and support groups, people with OCD can more easily find information and connect with others who understand what they are going through. In addition, there are now more treatment options available than ever before.
What are the different types of OCD?
There are four main types of OCD: checking, contamination, hoarding, and symmetry. However, many people with OCD have symptoms of more than one type.
Checking:
People with checking compulsions often feel the need to check things (e.g., locks, appliances, lights) multiple times or in a certain way to make sure they are safe or “just right.” They may also feel the need to count or arrange objects in a certain way.
Contamination:
People with contamination obsessions fear that they will come into contact with germs, toxins, or other substances that will cause them harm. They may wash their hands excessively or avoid touching people or objects altogether.
Hoarding:
People with hoarding compulsions feel the need to save or collect items because they believe they will need them in the future. They may have trouble throwing away even useless or broken items. As a result, their homes become cluttered and crammed full of stuff.
Symmetry:
People with symmetry obsessions feel the need to arrange objects in a certain way or keep them symmetrical (i.e., balanced and evenly spaced). For example, they may line up books on a shelf so that all the spines are facing the same direction
What are the Different Types of OCD Treatment?
There are several types of OCD treatment: medication, psychotherapy, and Deep TMS, among others. Medication can be used to reduce the symptoms of OCD, while psychotherapy can help people learn how to manage their obsessions and compulsions. Deep TMS is neither medication nor psychotherapy; it uses magnetic waves to in an H-Coil to correct neural activity in the brain.
Medication:
The most common type of medication used to treat OCD is a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRIs work by increasing levels of serotonin in the brain, which is thought to help reduce OCD symptoms. Examples of SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), and escitalopram (Lexapro). Other medications that may be used to treat OCD include tricyclic antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers.
Psychotherapy:
Psychotherapy, or “talk therapy,” is a type of counseling that can help people with OCD learn how to manage their obsessions and compulsions. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most common type of psychotherapy used to treat OCD. CBT helps people identify and change negative thinking patterns and behaviors that contribute to their disorder. Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is a specific type of CBT that involves gradually exposing oneself to feared objects or situations while resisting the urge to perform compulsions.
Deep TMS™:
Deep TMS overcomes traditional TMS (Figure-8 coils) limitations in range and targeting. This is thanks to Deep TMS’s patented H Coil technology. The helmet is fitted to the head of the patient. The H Coil generates magnetic fields that directly reach deeper and wider areas of the brain than traditional TMS. This increases treatment’s effectiveness.
