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1994-01-17
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$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.