2. INTRODUCTION
obsessive-compulsive disorder is a mental disorder whose main symptoms
include obsessions and compulsions, driving the person to engage in unwanted,
often-times distress behaviors or thoughts. The obsessions are usually related
to a sense of harm, risk or injury. The common Obsessions include concern
about contamination, doubt, fear of loss or letting go, fear of physically injuring
someone.Itâs treatment is done through a combination of psychiatric
medications and psychotherapy.
ďą Obsessive compulsive disorder(OCD) .
ďą Characterized by obsessional thoughts and
compulsive rituals.
ďą Secondary to both depressive illness and
Gilles de la Tourette syndrome.
3. OBSESSIONS:- Obsessions are recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or
images that cause distressing emotions such as anxiety or disgust. These intrusive
thoughts cannot be settled by logic or reasoning. Typical obsessions include
excessive concerns about contamination or harm, the need for symmetry or
exactness, or forbidden sexual or religious thoughts.
DEFINITIONS
COMPULSIONS:- Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts that a
person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession. The behaviors are
aimed at preventing or reducing distress or a feared situation. Although the
compulsion may bring some relief to the worry, the obsession returns and the cycle
repeats over and over. Some of the common compulsions include cleaning,
repeating, checking, ordering and arranging , Mental compulsions e.t.c
4. DEFINTION OF OCD Obsessive:- Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a common,
chronic and long-lasting disorder in which a person has uncontrollable,
reoccurring thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions) that he or she
feels the urge to repeat over and over.
An obsession is defined as an idea, impulse, or image which intrude into the
conscious aware repeatedly.
5. EPIDEMLOLOGY
ď§ CURRNT ESIMATES OF lifetime prevalence are generlly in the range of 1.7 -
4% .
ď§ OCD appears to have a simillar prevalence in different races and ethnicities .
ď§ Symptoms usually begin in individuals aged 10 -24 years .
ď§ The overallprevalence of OCD is equal in males and females .
6. CAUSES OF THE DISORDER
⢠GENETIC
⢠INFECTIONS
⢠OTHER NEUROLOGICAL CONDITONS
⢠STRESS
⢠INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
⢠BIOLOGICAL FACTORS
⢠PSYCHOANLYTICAL THEORY
⢠BEHAVIOR THEORY
⢠NEUROANATOMICAL FACTORS
7. CAUSES OF THE DISORDER
The cause of OCD is not Known ; however , the following factors are relevant :
1. Genetic :
⢠twin studies have supported strong heritability for ocd , with a
genetic influence of 45-65% in studies in children , and 27 â 47 %
in adults .
⢠monozygotic twins may be strikingly concordant for ocd (80-87 %
, compared with 47-50 % concordance in dizygotic twins .
⢠several genetic studies have supported linkages to a varity of
serotonergic , dopam- inergic and glutamatergic genes .
2. Infections : It has been hypothesized that streptococal infections trigger a CNS
autoimmune response that results in neuropsychiatric symptoms .
3. Other neurological conditions : rare reports exist of OCD presenting as a
manifestation of neurologic insults such as brain trauma , stimulant abuse ,
carbon monoxide poisoning .
4. Stress : OCD symptoms can worsen with stress : however , stress does not
appear to be an etiologic factor .
8. CountâŚ
5. Interpersonal relationships :
⢠OCD symptoms can interact negatively with intrpersonal relationships , and
families can become involved with illness in a counterpructive way .
⢠Parenting style or upbringing does not appear to be a causative factor in OCD .
6. Biological Factors:
⢠People with a first degree relative (parent or sibling) with OCD have a
5 times greater risk of having the illness.
⢠identical twins have more chances of developing OCD as compared to
dizygotic twins.
7. Psychoanalytical Theory:
According to the Fruedâs psychoanalytical theory OCD arises when
unacceptable wishes and impulses from the id are only partially repressed. They
cause anxiety. Ego defence mechanisms are used to reduce the anxiety. These
defence mechanisms are used unconsciously in the form of acts, such as hand
washing. These acts are thought to be symbolically undo the unacceptable id
impulses.
9. CountâŚ
8. Behavior Theory:
This theory explains Obsessions as a conditioned stimulus to
anxiety. Compulsions have been described as learned behavior that decreases the
anxiety associated with the Obsessions. This decrease in anxiety positively
reinforces the compulsive acts and they become stable learned behavior.
9. Neuroanatomical Factors:
⢠there is evidence of abnormal brain structure and activity in
patients with OCD.
⢠these abnormalities are found in the pathway linking the lobes
(responsible for judgement) with the basal ganglia (which are part of the system
frontal for planning behaviour) .
⢠Serotonin deficiency â OCD sufferers have too little serotonin for
their nerve cells to communicate effectively .
10. SIGNS & SYMOTOMS
Common obsessions include the following :
⢠Contamination .
â˘Safety .
â˘Doubting one â s memory or perception .
â˘Need for order or symmetry .
â˘Unwanted intrusive sexual / aggressrve thought .
Common compuistons include the following :
ď§ Cleaning / washing
ď§Checking ( checking locks , stove ,iron ,safey of children .
ď§Arranging objects .
ď§Touching / tapping objects .
ď§Hording
11. CLASSIFICATION OF OCD ICD-10
classifies OCD into 3 clinical subtypes according to the symptoms:
1. Predominantly absessive thought or rumination.
2. Predominantly compulsive acts.
3. Mixed Obsessional thoughts and acts.
12. CLINICAL MANIFESTSTIONS OF OCD
1. Washers (obsessional rituals)
This is the most common type. Here the obsession is of contamination with dirt,germs,
body excretions and the like. The compulsion is washing of hands or thewhole body,
repeatedly many times a day. It usually spreads onto washing of clothes, bathroom,
bedroom, door knobs and personal articles, gradually. The person tries to avoid
contamination but unable to, so washing becomes a ritual.
2. Obsesssional thoughts
there are words , ideas and bebefs that intrude forcibly into patient âs mind they are
usually unpleasant and hocking to the patient and may be obscene or blasphemours .
3 . Checkers (obsessional doubt)
In this type the person has multiple doubts that the activities may not have been
completed adequately. for example the door has not beenlocked, kitchen gas has been left
open, counting of money was not exact and etc.the compulsion, of course, is checking
repeatedly to remove the doubt. Anyattempts to stop the checking leads to mounting anxiety
before one doubt has been cleared, other doubts may creep in.
13. 4. Pure obsessions (intrusive thoughts)
This syndrome is characterized by repetitive intrusive thoughts, impulses or
images which are not associated with compulsive acts. The distress associated with
these obsessions is dealt usually by counter thought for e.g praying, undoing
actions etc .
a. Obsessional thoughts: these are words . ideas and beliefs ghat intrude
forcibly into the patients mind. They are usually unpleasant and shocking to the
patient and may be obscene and blastophemous. E.g. Orderliness, sexual imagery
repeated doubts etc.
b. Obsessional images: These are vividly imaginary scenes often of a violent
or disgusting kind involving abnormal sexual practice c. Obsessional impulses:
These are the urges to perform acts usually of a violenyt or embarrassing kind,
such as injuring a child, shouting in church etc c. Obsessional ruminations: These
involve internal debates in which arguments for and against even the simplest
everyday actions are reviewed endlessly.
CountâŚ
14. 4. Primary obsessive slowing(symmetry) It is characterized by several
obsessive ideas and or extensive compulsive rituals , in the relative absence of
manifested anxiety. this leads to marked slowness in daily activity. usually the
person demand on being need for symmetry and precise arranging so in order to
neutralize it they will continue ordering, arranging, balancing, straightening
until "just right" or perfect in their eyes.
CountâŚ
15. DIAGNOSIS OF OCD
⢠Suggested by demonstration of realistic behavior that is
irrationl or excessive.
⢠MRI and CT shows enlarged Basal Ganglia in some
patients.
⢠PET(Positron emisaion Tomography) shows incresed
glucose metabolism in part of the basal ganglia.
⢠ICD-10 criteria .
20. TREATMENT
1 . PHARMACO THERAPY :-
⢠5 â HT reuptake inhibitors , such as the SSRIs ( fluoxetine ,
fluvoxamine , sertraline , paroxetine , citalopram , escitaloparm ).
⢠clomipramine ( Anafranil ) , with possible alteratives including
veniafaxine , a sero- fonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI ) .
â˘Addition of an NE reuptake inhibitor , such as desipramine , to an
SSRI , or trail of venlafaxine .
â˘Addition of a typical or atypical antipsychotic , especially in patients
with a history of tics .
â˘Augmentation with buspirone .
â˘Addition of inositol .
â˘Sole or augmented use of selected glutamtergic agents .
21. CountâŚ
2. BEVIOR THERAPY :-
⢠This is a frist â line treatment that should be underrtaken .
â˘Exposure and respo prevention( ERP ) is the important and specific core
element in behavior therapy for OCD .
3. MEDITATION & RELAXATION THERAPY
4. PSYCHODYNAMIC PSYCHOTHERAPY :-
ď§ This can be used for the patients who are psychologically oriented. The therapy
is based on psychoanalysis in which the patient is made conscious about their
unconscious thoughts and motivations thus gaining insight.
22. COGNITIVE BEHAVIOR THERAPY :-
During treatment sessions, patients are exposed to the
situations that create anxiety and provoke compulsive behavior or mental rituals.
Through exposure, patients learn to decrease and then stop the rituals that
consume their lives. They find that the anxiety arising from their obsessions lessens
without engaging in ritualistic behavior. This technique works well for patients
whose compulsions focus on situations that can be re-created easily.
23. PHARMACOLOGICAL TREATMENT
1. Benzodiazepines:-
⢠Alprazolam(0.5-1mg/day)
⢠Clonazepam(0.25-0.5 mg/day)
2. Antidepressants :-
Clomipramine(75-300mg/day)
Fluoxetine(20-80mg/day)
Fluvoxamine(50-200mg/day)
3. Antipsychotics :-
these are occassionally used in low doses in the treatment of severe anxiety
e.g. Haloperidol,Risperidine, Olanzepine.
24. ELECTRO-CONVULSIVE THERAPY
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)In the presence of severe depression with OCD,
ECT may be needed. ECT is particularly indicated when there is a risk of suicide
and/or when there is a poor response to the other modes of treatment.
SELF-HELP AND COPING
Keeping a healthy lifestyle and being aware of warning signs and what to do if
they return can help in coping with OCD and related disorders. Also, using basic
relaxation techniques, such as meditation, yoga, visualization, and massage, can
help ease the stress and anxiety caused by OCD
25. PSYCHO SURGERY
In severe chronic incapacitating cases, where all other treatment have failed,
Streotactile site speciefic brain surgery hs been reported to be successful. These
surgery includes:
1. Anterior cigulotomy
2. Capsulotomy
3. Limbic leucotomy These surgery involve the separation of the frontal cortex from
deep limbic structure.
27. ⢠Social impairment
⢠Obsessive thought (repetitive worries, repeating and counting images or words)
⢠Compulsive behaviour (repetitive activity, like touching, counting, doing or
undoing)
⢠History inculding nature and severity of obsessive symptoms , compulsive
symptoms , age of onset , history of tics either current of past , psychiatric review of
systms and comorbidities .
⢠A complete Mental status Examination .
â˘Skin findings in OCD may include the following :
1. Eczmatous eruptions related to excessive washing .
2. Hair loss related to trichotillomania or compulsive hair pulling .
3. Excoriations related to neurodermatitis or compulsive skin picking .
NURSING ASSESSMENT
28. NURSING DIAGNOSIS
1. Severe anxiety related to absessional thoughts and impulses as evidenced by
repetitive actions and decresed social functioning.
2. Ineffective individual coping relted to under developed ego, punitive super
ego, avoidance learning, possible biochemical changes as evidenced by
realistic behavior.
3. Altered role performance related to the need to perform rituals, as evidenced
by inability to fulfill usual patterns of responsibility .
4. Chronic low self-esteem relted to the obsessiinal thoughts and rituals s
evidenced by social isolation and low self confidence.
5. Sleep pttern disturbnces related to the obsessional doubts and fears s
mnifested by repetitive checking of doors nd not sleeping properly.
30. ⢠Establish relationship through use of empathy,warmth, and respect.
⢠Acknowledge behavior without focusing attention on it. Verbalize empathy
toward clientâs experience rather than disapproval or criticism.
⢠Assist client to learn stress management, (e.g.,thought- stopping, relaxation
exercises, imagery)
⢠Give positive reinforcement for noncompulsive behavior.
⢠Assist client to find ways to set limits on own behaviors.
31. ⢠Work with ptient to determine the type of situations that increase anxiety and
result in such behvior.
⢠Meet the patient dependency needs.
⢠Provide positive reinforcement.
⢠Support patients efforts to explore the meaning and purpose of behavior.
⢠Provide structured schedule activities for patient, including adequte time for
performing rituals.
⢠Help the ptient lern wys of interrupting absessive thoughts.
32. ⢠Determine patients previous role within the family nd the extent to which the
role is altered by the illness.
⢠Encourge patient to discuss conflicts evident within the family system.
⢠Explore availble options for changes for djustment in the role.
⢠Practice through role play.
⢠Provide positive reinforcement.