This document discusses obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), including its causes, symptoms, and treatment. It notes that OCD is characterized by intrusive thoughts that produce anxiety and repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing anxiety. Common OCD symptoms include contamination fears, harm obsessions, and checking, cleaning, and ordering compulsions. The causes of OCD are unclear but may involve biological factors like changes in brain chemistry or genetics as well as environmental influences. Treatment typically involves behavioral therapy and sometimes medication.

1. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Muzna AL Hooti
Aysha AL Jaafari
Khaula AL Taii

2. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is
an anxiety disorders characterized by intrusive
thoughts that produce uneasiness,
apprehension, fear, or worry; by repetitive
behaviors aimed at reducing the associated
anxiety; or by a combination of such
obsessions and compulsions.
compulsive_disorder93%80%2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obsessive%E

3. Types of OCD
Percent of OCD Cases by Symptom
Checking
Hoarding
Ordering
Morality
Sexual/Religious
Contamination/Washing
Harming/Aggression
Illness
Other
http://www.ocdtypes.com/

4. Types of
Obsessions
Contamination Fears
• Concern with dirt and germs.
• Excessive concerns with
household items.
• Excessive concerns with
environmental contaminants.
• Bothered by bodily waste or
secretions.
• Bothered by sticky or greasy
substances.
• Excessive concern with
animals or insects.

5. Causing Harm by Accident
• Accidentally hitting a
pedestrian while driving.
• Leaving on a stove, oven,
curling iron, or hair dryer...
• Leaving a door or window
unlocked resulting in a
robbery.

6. Religious Obsessions
• Concerned with sacrilege or
blasphemy: For example,
someone might worry that they
have inadvertently offended God
or even accidentally worshiped
the devil.
• Excess concern with
right/wrong, morality: For
example, someone may worry
about always doing the morally
right thing, in every
circumstance.
• Performing a religious task or
ritual in the wrong way

7.  Obsessions with Symmetry
• Some people with OCD have
obsessions surrounding the way
objects are arranged. These people
may feel very uncomfortable when
confronted with situations where
objects are misaligned or in
disarray. On a related note, some
people may be made
uncomfortable when something
does not appear perfect. They may
not be able to tolerate having
written something where the
letters may be shaped imperfectly.
The corresponding compulsions
would be ordering and arranging or
compulsive corrections.

8.  Miscellaneous Obsessions
• Need to know or remember (e.g. if
hears part of some information, the
person needs to hear the rest)
• Fear of saying certain things
• Fear of not saying just the right thing
(e.g. need to be perfectly understood)
• Fear of losing things
• Lucky and/or unlucky numbers (i.e. that
4 is good and 13 is bad)
• Colors with special significance (i.e. red
is bad because of the devil, etc.)
• Superstitious fears (e.g. can't step on a
crack)
• Fear that one already has terrible illness
or disease

9. Unusual Obsessions
• Excessive concern with body
part of aspect of appearance
(not weight related)
• Bothered by certain sounds or
noises
• Intrusive (non-violent) images
(i.e. cartoons, faces, clouds)
• Intrusive nonsense sounds,
words, or music
• Losing one's personality or
positive qualities

10. The causes and the symptoms of
obsessive compulsiveness disorder

11. What Causes OCD?
– By Mayo Clinic staff The cause of obsessive-compulsive disorder isn't
fully understood. Main theories include:
• Biology. OCD may be a result of changes in your body's own natural
chemistry or brain functions. OCD also may have a genetic
component, but specific genes have yet to be identified.
• Environment. OCD may stem from behavior-related habits that you
learned over time.
• Insufficient serotonin. An insufficient level of serotonin, one of
your brain's chemical messengers, may contribute to obsessive-
compulsive disorder. In addition, people with obsessive-compulsive
disorder who take medications that improve the action of serotonin
often have fewer OCD symptoms

12. • Unfortunately we still do not know the exact cause or causes of OCD.
However, research suggests that differences in the brain and genes of
those affected may play a role.
• Is OCD a Brain Disorder?
• Research suggests that OCD involves problems in communication between
the front part of the brain and deeper structures. These brain structures
use a chemical messenger called serotonin. Pictures of the brain at work
also show that in some people, the brain circuits involved in OCD become
more normal with either serotonin medicines or cognitive behavior
therapy (CBT).
• Is OCD Inherited?
• Research shows that OCD does run in families and that genes likely play a
role in the development of the disorder. Genes appear to be only partly
responsible for causing the disorder though. No one really knows what
other factors might be involved, perhaps an illness or even ordinary life
stresses that may induce the activity of genes associated with the
symptoms of OCD.

13. • Some experts think that OCD that begins in childhood may be
different from the OCD that begins in adults. For example, a recent
review of twin studies1 has shown that genes play a larger role
when OCD starts in childhood (45-65%) compared to when it starts
in adulthood (27-47%).
• Future Research
• Research is the key to finding the cause of OCD

14. • Causes of OCD - Biological |Theories
• Biological causes of OCD have focused on a circuit in the brain which regulates
primitive aspects of our behavior such as aggression, sexuality, and bodily
excretions. This circuit relays information from a part of the brain called the
orbitofrontal cortex to another area called the thalamus and includes other
regions such as the caudate nucleus of the basal ganglia. When this circuit is
activated, these impulses are brought to your attention and cause you to
perform a particular behavior that appropriately addresses the impulse.
• For example, after using the restroom, you may begin to wash your hands to
remove any harmful germs you may have encountered. Once you have
performed the appropriate behavior -- in this case, washing your hands -- the
impulse from this brain circuit diminishes and you stop washing your hands and
go about your day.
• It has been suggested that if you have OCD, your brain has difficulty turning off
or ignoring impulses from this circuit. This, in turn, causes repetitive behaviors
called compulsions and/or uncontrollable thoughts called obsessions. For
instance, your brain may have trouble turning off thoughts of contamination
after leaving the restroom, leading you to wash your hands again and again.

15. • In support of this theory, the obsessions and compulsions associated
with OCD often have themes which are related to sexuality,
aggression, and contamination -– the very thoughts and impulses this
circuit controls. In addition, neuroimaging studies in which scientists
and doctors to peer into the living brain have confirmed abnormal
activity in this brain circuit among people with OCD. Specifically,
people with OCD show abnormal activity in different parts of this
circuit including the orbital frontal cortex, cingulate cortex and caudate
nucleus of the basal ganglia.
• Finally, as many people with OCD respond to treatment with
medications including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
which boost the neurochemical serotonin, it has been suggested that
dysregulation of this brain circuit may be related to a problem with the
serotonin system.
• Causes of OCD - Cognitive-Behavioral Theories
• Almost everyone experiences bizarre or unexpected thoughts
throughout the day. According to cognitive-behavioral theories of OCD,
if you are vulnerable to OCD you are unable to ignore these be able to
control these thoughts and that these thoughts are dangerous.

16. • Signs and symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Most people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have both
obsessions and compulsions, but some people experience just one or the
other.
•
• OCD signs and symptoms: Obsessive thoughts
• Common obsessive thoughts in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
include:
• Fear of being contaminated by germs or dirt or contaminating others.
• Fear of causing harm to yourself or others.
• Intrusive sexually explicit or violent thoughts and images.
• Excessive focus on religious or moral ideas.
• Fear of losing or not having things you might need.
• Order and symmetry: the idea that everything must line up “just right.”
• Superstitions; excessive attention to something considered lucky or
unlucky.

17. – OCD signs and symptoms: Compulsive behaviors
• Common compulsive behaviors in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
include:
• Excessive double-checking of things, such as locks, appliances, and
switches.
• Repeatedly checking in on loved ones to make sure they’re safe.
• Counting, tapping, repeating certain words, or doing other senseless
things to reduce anxiety.
• Spending a lot of time washing or cleaning.
• Ordering or arranging things “just so.”
• Praying excessively or engaging in rituals triggered by religious fear.
• Accumulating “junk” such as old newspapers or empty food containers.

18. • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms in children
• While the onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder usually
occurs during adolescence or young adulthood, younger
children sometimes have symptoms that look like OCD.
However, the symptoms of other disorders, such as ADD,
autism, and Tourette’s syndrome, can also look like obsessive-
compulsive disorder, so a thorough medical and psychological
exam is essential before any diagnosis is made.

19. HOW TO COPE WITH
OCD?

20. • Get your condition diagnosed
properly
– if you have any of the symptoms
See a psychologist and get your
condition diagnosed.
• Learn to cut the pattern off.
• Don't let OCD define who you
are.
• Congratulate Yourself.
• See a psychologist or therapist.
• If your OCD causes you to
practice compulsive behaviors,
learn to control them.

21. Treatment
• Treating obsessive compulsive disorder will
depend on the how much the condition is
affecting your ability to function.
• How much impact OCD has on a person's life
depends on:
the amount of time spent on a compulsive
behaviour or ritual.
the intensity of the behaviour.
how much of it happens in their mind, rather than
in their actions.

22. • Your treatment program is likely to involve:
behavioural therapy – to change the way you
behave and reduce your anxiety.
medication – to control your symptoms

23. Educational implications
(How teacher can support OCD
students)
identify and refer students with OCD to the school counselor or support
services team due to their extensive interaction with these students.
Teachers must be aware of the symptoms of OCD because it is somehow
difficult to recognize it especially in elementary students.
Students with OCD are often so mentally and physically exhausted from
ritualising that their ability to concentrate is impaired.
They hardly admit because they think it’s embarrassing.
Students experiencing obsessions may get “stuck” or fixated on a thought,
which causes an inability to complete set tasks.
the relationship between the student and the teacher plays a critical role in
the life of students with OCD, as with all pupils.

24. A classroom climate in which students do not feel threatened by their peers
or teachers is most conducive to the completion of these tasks.
Teachers are encouraged not to threaten or punish a child with OCD because
of tardiness, forgetfulness or procrastination
Teachers are also encouraged to organize class activity so that the child has a
partner, for example, ensuring that the child has few ‘safe friends’ to
accompany them on field excursions
Modifications to the classroom setting can be an effective way of reducing
student anxiety. For example: Larger classrooms, keep them away from
windows or doors or any other thing that causes distraction.
Teachers should emphasize the fact that everyone is fearful and anxious at
times, so the OCD students feel less abnormal.
The teacher should make their lives easier by helping them out. For example,
if the student can’t take notes, the teacher provide outlines. If the student
facing difficulty in completing a test, the teacher can allow breaks.
Students with compulsions may repetitiously cross out, trace or rewrite
letters, excessively rub out or check/recheck answers, symmetrically arrange
books and equipment and frequently need to leave the classroom.

25. References
•Woolcock, Elizabeth and Campbell, Marilyn Anne (2005) The Role of Teachers in
the Support of Students with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. The Australian
Educational and Developmental Psychologist 22(1):pp. 54-64.
•Obsessive-compulsive disorder. (n.d.). Retrieved November 14, 2013, from
Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia website,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obsessive%E2%80%93compulsive_disorder
•Obsessive compulsive disorder. (n.d.), from OCD Types, What’s Your Type?
Website, http://www.ocdtypes.com/
•National Health Service Choices.(2013). Obsessive compulsive disorder –
Treatment. Retrieved from
http://statse.webtrendslive.com/dcss yzisf xjyg mgbihg p
•Rob S, Ben Rubenstein, Trackstar24, Julia Maureen and 18 others.(n.d).How to
Cope with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Retrieved from
http://www.wikihow.com/Cope-With-Obsessive-Compulsive-Disorder

26. http://www.helpguide.org/mental/obsessive_compuls
ive_disorder_ocd.htm
-panic/tc/obsessive-http://www.webmd.com/anxiety
overview-topic-ocd-disorder-compulsive
-http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/obsessive
/DSECTION=causes00189disorder/DS-compulsive