Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Causes and Treatment - Essay Example

There are four OCD DSM features (Susan, 2007). The first includes the presence of obsessive images, impulses, or thoughts. The thoughts are more than a reflection of excess worries. The person is unable to suppress or ignore these thoughts. The thoughts lead to distress and anxiety. The second feature includes the presence of behavior that is repetitive or compulsive. The person performs the action to decrease stress due to OCD. The third feature is that the patient recognizes that the actions are unreasonable and in excess. The fourth feature is that the obsession occupies a significant time of the patient (Kohn, 2012).

The case history is of two females. Marna and Laura have OCD and are long-time friends. They have lived with the disease since childhood. However, they have different symptoms. Both have a significant mental history in their families. Marna is obsessed with orderliness. Laura is a checker; she arranges paper works among others. Both have insight into their condition, and they claim that it consumes significant time in their lives. This has impaired their quality of life. Both employ humor as a coping mechanism for their anxiety. Both are on mediations and have joined support groups. They report their symptoms have been improving (Kohn, 2012).

Currently, about 2% of the adult population has been diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (Kohn, 2012). Approximately 4% will have the disorder at one time in their lives (Kalat, 2010). About a third of OCD cases begin in childhood. The disorder can begin anytime between preschool and adulthood. It starts gradually especially during adolescence and early adulthood. Children develop compulsive symptoms before they experience obsessive thoughts. However, children lack insight, and thus, the majority of the cases are not diagnosed. Most adults have good insight and acknowledge that their compulsive and obsessive thoughts are irrational.

The clinical diagnosis of OCD is sometimes difficult. This is because some of the patients are unwilling to reveal their symptoms and the majority of the health workers are unfamiliar with the symptoms. Although the disease can be treated, this causes delays which leads to exacerbation of the symptoms. Cognitive therapy has an imperative role in the treatment of OCD. However, 25% of patients diagnosed with the disorder are non-compliant with the treatment. The condition is distressing as well as time-consuming. It appreciably interferes with the patient’s social life, career and relationships. Stress has been attributed to exacerbating the disease although it is not the primary cause of the disorder (Kohn, 2012).

During the interview, it is imperative to establish the history of the patient’s disease. This includes the onset, severity, and effects of the disease on the patient. It is also crucial to establish whether other members of the family have been diagnosed with OCD. The health care personnel should establish the trigger and relieving factors of the disease. This will help one identify how the patient copes with the disorder. The patient should be asked to describe their obsessive and compulsive thoughts. Finally, it is crucial to establish whether the patient has insight or not (Kalat, 2010).

OCD is treated using a combination of medications, education, and psychotherapy. Education involves enlightening the patient on the cause, triggers, and coping techniques of the disease. The education program should involve both the patient and the family members. Although family problems exacerbate OCD, they are not the cause of the disorder. Involvement of the family in the education programs also enables them to cope with the patient. Medical treatment was discovered in 1980 (Kohn, 2012). Antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs are used in OCD as they increase the level of serotonin in the caudate nucleus. The levels of serotonin in the brain have been associated with the development of OCD. The drugs also enable the patient to deal with the anxiety associated with compulsive actions.

The most effective method in the treatment of OCD is the application of cognitive-behavioral therapy. This enables the patient to gain control of the unwanted thoughts and behavior. The treatment involves exposing the patient to the stimuli and preventing the irrational response. This treatment modality has been successfully applied in the treatment of OCD (Kohn, 2012).

The mark scored in the quiz assessment is 11/12 which totals 92 %. There is a feedback mechanism that seeks to prevent repetitive actions. It is located in the frontal cortex. When it fails to function, one can continuously do and re-do a certain activity without this inhibition; therefore, causing OCD. People undertake compulsive behavior to relieve anxiety due to their obsession. This may include activities such as routinely checking locks.

OCD is difficult to treat and diagnose because most patients are unwilling to reveal their symptoms. There is a delay in diagnosis because most health care personnel lack knowledge of OCD; therefore, they treat the patient for something else. Thoughts should be regarded as pathological when a person is unable to suppress them. Thoughts are also pathological if they cause distress and anxiety.