A woman in plastic gloves cleans an already spotless table.Obsessions are persistent, unwanted thoughts about a certain topic. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts which one feels compelled to perform. People diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) often act out compulsions in response to their obsessions. 

For example, a person may constantly worry their house will get robbed. To manage their anxiety, the person checks the locks on their doors a dozen times a night. This behavior cannot realistically prevent a robbery or break-in, but the person feels severe distress if they don’t follow through. 

If left untreated, OCD can last a lifetime. Symptoms may interfere with one’s work, relationships, and general well-being. A therapist can help people manage their symptoms and learn coping skills.

What is OCD?

In the United States, around 1.6% of adults will experience OCD in their lifetimes. The condition usually begins around age 19, although a quarter of cases start before age 14. OCD can occur in people of all ages, economic classes, and ethnic groups.

Obsessions are recurrent thoughts or urges that cause distress. These thoughts can be rooted in disgust, guilt, or fear. The obsessions often have one of the following themes:

  • Contamination: Thoughts are often about illness, dirt, etc. Cleaning and washing rituals are common. People may overestimate the threat of contamination.
  • Lack of order: Obsessions are often about symmetry and completion. They can lead to counting, repeating, and organizing compulsions. Individuals often have perfectionist tendencies and a need for control.
  • Forbidden thoughts: This category involves intrusive thoughts about committing a taboo. For example, a religious person may receive mental images of burning a temple. Compulsions often try to suppress these thoughts or prevent oneself from committing the taboo. 
  • Fear of harm: Thoughts are often about accidents, injuries, etc. A person may fear harm coming to themselves or loved ones. They may feel responsible for preventing tragedies through their compulsive actions.

Someone may have obsessions in multiple categories. The topics of obsessions can change over time.

Compulsions are often used to counteract the obsessions. Some actions are done to relieve stress. Other behaviors aim to prevent a feared event. The compulsion does not need to have a logical connection to the obsession. For example, a child may count stair steps to prevent a parent from dying. If the actions and thoughts are connected though, the action will be far out of proportion to the risk. 

Obsessive-compulsive behavior almost always interferes with daily life. Some people feel compelled to spend hours a day on their compulsions. Others may go out of their way to avoid certain triggers.

Many people with OCD are aware that their behaviors aren’t logical. Yet they still feel anxious and distracted until they perform the compulsion. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), less than 4% of people with OCD have complete faith in their disordered beliefs. 

Sensorimotor Obsessions

A worried man checks the smell of his breath.Sensorimotor obsessions, also known as body-focused obsessions, are often symptoms of OCD. People may feel stuck on a particular act, such as blinking, breathing, or swallowing. They tend to overanalyze every detail of these otherwise involuntary bodily functions. 

Mental and verbal rituals often accompany these thoughts. One person may count aloud the number of times they blink. Another may repeat a phrase in their head in an attempt to control their pulse.  

These behaviors often lead to frustration and anxiety. The added stress can cause the person to feel even more out of control, unable to shift their awareness away from their body. Sensorimotor obsessions can severely impede one’s ability to function. 

Pure Obsessional OCD

Pure obsessional OCD involves obsessions without easily observed compulsions. This form of OCD is also called pure O.  

In pure O, obsessions are often intrusive and disturbing. They typically break an individual’s moral code. Common obsessions include:

  • Mental images of physically attacking a loved one
  • Worries one will molest a child 
  • Thoughts about yelling slurs or insults to a friend
  • Fears that one will cheat on a romantic partner
  • Mental images of sacrilegious acts, such as worshipping Satan

These thoughts can cause severe distress when they contrast with a person’s ethics and nature. However, thoughts are not the same as intent. Someone with obsessive thoughts about running over pedestrians is very unlikely to commit murder. In fact, they will likely be a more careful driver than the average person.

Despite the name, pure obsessional OCD does involve compulsions. Mental rituals are common. For instance, a person may mentally repeat a phrase to “cleanse” themselves of sexual thoughts. Another individual may subtly check their body to make sure they aren’t attracted to a family member. 

It can be very difficult for those with pure O to get help. Due to the taboo nature of their thoughts, many are reluctant to talk about their symptoms. Since compulsions are often done inside the mind, others rarely see the person’s distress. Yet pure O is treatable, just like any other subtype of OCD.

Causes of OCD

There are many factors that can contribute to obsessive compulsive behavior. Biology and environment can both play a role.

Find a Therapist

Advanced Search

From a cognitive perspective, people with OCD often place undue importance on thoughts. Many people have intrusive thoughts on occasion. Yet those with OCD may believe these thoughts reflect their inner character or affect the outside world. The extra attention can boost the perceived importance of the thoughts, reinforcing the obsessions. Compulsions may develop as faulty attempts to block these distressing thoughts. 

Trauma can also lead to obsessions and compulsions. Children experiencing physical abuse or sexual abuse are more likely to develop OCD. Traumatic events (such as a car crash) can contribute. Everyday stress cannot cause OCD, but it can aggravate already-present symptoms.

OCD tends to run in families. If a person has a first-degree relative (like a parent or sibling) with OCD, their own risk of OCD doubles. If the relative developed OCD in childhood, the person is 10 times more likely to have OCD than the general public. 

A study by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) linked OCD to two genetic mutations. The mutations make it harder for serotonin to move properly through the brain. Serotonin promotes feelings of satisfaction and well-being. If serotonin levels are low, one may experience anxiety.

OCD has also been linked to dysfunction in one of the brain circuits. The circuit activates when a person receives an impulse. After someone performs the related action, the neuron signals typically stop, and the person feels satisfied. In the case of OCD, the neurons continue firing. The person still has the impulse. They may need to do the act several times before they find the same satisfaction others get from acting once.

PANDAS

An estimated 1 in 2,000 children may develop obsessive-compulsive behaviors after a strep infection. The condition is called Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections, or PANDAS. 

Many experts believe PANDAS is an immune response. When a strep infection occurs, antibodies sometimes target parts of the brain. This mistake can cause a sudden development of obsessions and compulsions. 

Other studies suggest the strep infection does not cause OCD symptoms. Instead, the infection may trigger symptoms in kids who were already predisposed to the condition. 

There is not much research on the prognosis of PANDAS. Some children recover completely, while others have symptoms through adulthood. In some cases, treating the underlying strep infection will cause symptoms to go away. Yet cognitive behavioral therapy and medication are the primary treatments.

How to Spot OCD in Children

Some parents may struggle to distinguish between OCD and typical childhood behaviors. Some rituals, such as bed time prayers or organizing toys, can be age-appropriate. Yet when habits interfere with school or friendships, there may be cause for concern.

Common signs of pediatric OCD include:

  • Irritability
  • Difficulty making decisions
  • Unexplained stretches of time alone
  • Withdrawal from social activities with friends
  • Requests to stay home from school to finish up assignments
  • Excessive time spent on daily tasks 
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Extreme reactions to minor changes in routine

Children and adolescents are more likely to have harm-related symptoms than adults. It is common for kids to compulsively ask adults for reassurance. They often crave routine and consistency. 

OCD and Gender

There are slight differences in how genders experience OCD. Adult women tend to have higher rates of OCD than men. However, males are more likely to develop obsessions and compulsions in childhood. 

Women are more likely to have cleaning-related symptoms. Men’s symptoms are more likely to fall under the symmetry or taboo categories. Men are also more likely to have a comorbid tic condition than women.

OCD Across Cultures

In the U.S., the prevalence of OCD is roughly the same among ethnic groups. Internationally, prevalence rates range from 0.3% (Brazil) to 2.7% (Hungary). The age of onset and symptom patterns tend to be consistent across countries. Yet an area's culture may influence which themes are more common. 

A young girl lines up all the rocks in the yard on a bench.In East Asia, symmetry-related symptoms are the most prevalent. Contamination and aggression themes are also common. 

Among Latin American countries, the most common themes were aggression and contamination. In a study of people in Rio de Janeiro, nearly 70% reported obsessions about aggression. 

There is not much OCD research for African countries. The studies that do exist usually address OCD in the context of other diagnoses. For instance, a 2014 study on South Sudan sought to explore connections between trauma exposure and anxiety. The study found 12% of participants had comorbid OCD. 

Doubt is the most common theme in South and Southeast Asia. In India, those with OCD often feel compelled to double-check they have completed their daily responsibilities. A small study in Bali found the most common obsession was the need to know identities of passerby.

Religious obsessions are prevalent among Islamic Middle Eastern countries. Although cleanliness and purity are highly valued in Islam, people with OCD often do rituals in excess. Pakistani individuals have described OCD symptoms with the word napak, an Islamic term for feelings of unholiness and contamination.

Conditions Related to OCD

Obsessions and compulsions often occur alongside other mental health concerns. Among adults with OCD:

The DSM-5 lists several conditions which are closely related to OCD. These issues are more common in people with OCD than those without the diagnosis. Related conditions include:

  • Body dysmorphia: A person obsesses over perceived flaws in their body. They may check mirrors, do excessive grooming, or constantly compare their looks to those of other people.
  • Trichotillomania: A person repeatedly pulls out their hair, often from the scalp or eyebrows. The condition can result in significant hair loss.
  • Excoriation: A person feels compelled to pick at their skin. The behavior is often time-consuming and can result in bodily damage.
  • Hoarding: A person struggles to throw objects away, even if they are no longer useful. The resulting clutter can put a strain on one’s relationships and living space.
  • Koro: A person believes their genitalia (penis, nipples, or breasts) will retract into their body and disappear. They may tug on the organ to delay its retreat. The condition is typically found in Southeast Asia.
  • Jikoshu-kyofu: A person worries they have foul body odor. They may repeatedly check their bodies or shower excessively. The condition is based in Japan, but there is a similar issue in the U.S. called olfactory reference syndrome.

All these conditions are treatable. A mental health professional can help people stop compulsive behaviors and feel less distress. Help is available. 

References:

  1. Bretécher, R. (2013, August 31). Pure OCD: A rude awakening. The Guardian. Retrieved, from http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/aug/31/pure-ocd-the-naked-truth
  2. Cordeiro, T., Sharma, M. P., Thennarasu, K., & Reddy, Y. C. J. (2015). Symptom dimensions in obsessive-compulsive disorder and obsessive beliefs. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 37(4), 403-408. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4676205/#ref9
  3. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5. (5th ed.). (2013). Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association.
  4. How do I talk to my child about OCD? (n.d.). IOCDF. Retrieved from https://kids.iocdf.org/for-parents/how-do-i-talk-to-my-child-about-ocd
  5. Managing OCD in your household. (n.d.). IOCDF. Retrieved from https://kids.iocdf.org/for-parents/managing-ocd-in-your-household
  6. Obsessive-compulsive disorder: Overview. (n.d.) National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/index.shtml
  7. Obsessive-compulsive disorder: When unwanted thoughts or irresistible actions take over. (n.d.). National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-when-unwanted-thoughts-take-over/index.shtml
  8. PANDAS (pediatric autoimmune neuropsychatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections). (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.medicinenet.com/pandas/article.htm#pediatric_autoimmune_neuropsychiatric_disorders_associated_with_streptococcal_infections_pandas_facts
  9. PANDAS—Questions and answers. (n.d.) National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/pandas/index.shtml#pub1
  10. What causes OCD? (n.d.) OCD-UK. Retrieved from https://www.ocduk.org/what-causes-ocd
  11. Williams, M.T., Chapman, L.K., Simms, J. V., & Tellawi, G. (2017.) Cross-cultural phenomenology of obsessive-compulsive disorder. In The Wiley Handbook of Obsessive Compulsive Disorders, (pp. 56-74). DOI: 10.1002/9781118890233.ch4