Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder which affects 2-3% of the population.

OCD is characterized by recurrent, unwanted and unpleasant thoughts (obsessions), and/or repetitive, ritualistic behaviours, which the person feels driven to perform (compulsions). People with OCD know their obsessions and compulsions are irrational or excessive, yet find they have little or no control over them.

Typical Obsessions: Dirt and contamination; fear of acting on violent or aggressive impulses; feeling overly responsible for the safety of others--unreasonable fear of having run someone with a car, for example; abhorrent religious (blashemous) and sexual intrusions; inordinate concern with order, arrangement, or symmetry.

Typical Compulsions: Washing (particularly hand washing), cleaning, checking, touching, repetitive actions, counting, arranging and ordering, hoarding, ritualistic behaviours that lessen the chances of provoking obsessions (e.g., putting all sharp objects out of sight); superstitious-like acts that reduce obsessional fears (e.g., only wearing certain colours), etc.

A person can have a few or many of these symptoms, which can vary during the course of the disorder.

What are some of the other symptoms of OCD?
People with OCD may become demoralized or develop depression. Feelings of intense anxiety are common.

What causes OCD?
The exact causes of OCD are still unknown. However, researchers strongly suspect that a biochemical imbalance is involved. Alterations in one or more brain chemical systems that regulate repetitive behaviours may be related to the cause of OCD. Psychological factors and stress may heighten symptoms.

What is the age of onset of OCD?
The disorder usually begins in adolescence or early adulthood, but it may also occur in childhood.

What is the course of OCD?
If not treated appropriately, the disorder is often chronic, with waxing and waning of symptoms. In some cases, people may out-grow the disorder; in others, it may follow a progressively deteriorative course.

How disabling is OCD?
Impairment ranges from minimal to severe. Sometimes the symptoms are crippling: frequent hospitalizations may become necessary and regular employment impossible. On the other hand, many successful doctors, lawyers, engineers, educators, homemakers, businessmen/women, factory workers, performers and entertainers continue to succeed, despite symptoms of OCD. For the majority of people who lead otherwise normal lives, life would be even more productive and fulfilling if they were free of symptoms. The emotional and economic costs of OCD to the individual, the family, and society are enormous.

Are people with OCD "crazy"?
No. The behaviours may seem "crazy," but the person performing them is not. In fact, an OCD sufferer is acutely aware of the excessiveness or irrationality of his/her fears or behaviours, yet is unable to control them. This self-awareness creates a new fear that others will think he/she is weak or crazy. People with OCD are often very secretive about their symptoms and, thus, afraid to seek treatment.