$Unique_ID{BRK02462} $Pretitle{} $Title{What Is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?} $Subject{compulsion obsessive compulsive disorder ocd mental condition secretive depressive serotonin repetitive activity clomipramine emotional conditions behavior behaviors psychological obsession depressed secrets repeat repeating} $Volume{E-23} $Log{} Copyright (c) 1992,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc. What Is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ QUESTION: You probably know something about this, but it remains a complete mystery to myself and my family. Our daughter-in-law has been diagnosed as having a compulsion problem that needs medication and therapy. We don't know how to deal with this, and need more information than we have been able to get from my son. Can you help us with a description of this condition? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ANSWER: I am not surprised that you have little information about "Obsessive Compulsive Disorder" (OCD), for until just recently it was considered a rare mental condition. Research in psychiatry over the last decade has revealed that OCD is much more common than previously thought and affects an estimated 4 million Americans. The good news is that though it once was considered almost impossible to treat with medications, new developments have provided physicians with a number of safe and effective medicines that are most useful in treating the condition. Patients suffering from OCD tend to be secretive about their problem, for their mental processes often contain bizarre thoughts about suicide, or murder, and the presence of dirt and contamination in everything that surrounds them. They may perform odd rituals of repeated hand washing or cleaning as a means of removing the anxiety about dirt. In fact repeated activity, such as checking the lock on a door over and over, may occupy several hours out of each working day, hours and activities which are concealed from everyone around them. They fear that this activity will reveal to the world their deep feeling of insanity. However treatment holds out much hope. Medications which have previously been used to treat depressive states often are effective in treating OCD. Medications which affect the physiology of serotonin can suppress obsessive thoughts and diminish the repetitive activity. While clomipramine is the only such medication currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat OCD, many other agents are currently under investigation. If you are interested in learning more about OCD or clinical trials of new medications you may write to the OC Foundation, P.O. Box 9573, New Haven, Connecticut 06535. ---------------- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.