Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is generally diagnosed when two main symptoms are present: obsessive thoughts and worries along with compulsive behavior. The best way to obtain an OCD diagnosis is to see a licensed professional psychologist or counselor who has specialized training in helping patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. He or she will ask questions about symptoms and behaviors in order to determine if OCD is the cause, or possibly another anxiety disorder. Once diagnosis has been made, treatment usually involves a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy and medication.
The primary symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder are obsessive thoughts and feelings combined with compulsive behaviors aimed at alleviating anxiety. Feelings and thought processes are usually irrational and typically induce a fear response, sometimes causing panic attacks. The behaviors, or rituals as they are often referred to, are often repetitive and may seem silly or crazy to others. An example of how these thoughts and rituals combine may be a patient who has an irrational fear of germs. She may believe that if she does not wash her hands over and over again, she will become contaminated with germs and die.
Professionals typically look for both characteristics in order to make an OCD diagnosis. Rituals can be any number of things such as turning lights on and off, obsessively checking to be sure a door is locked, as well as internal behaviors like excessive prayer or repeating the same phrase silently over and over again. Some patients have more rituals than others, and many do not even realize they are engaging in them. This can make an OCD diagnosis more difficult.
For patients to receive the most appropriate care and diagnosis, it is important for them to keep track of any compulsive behaviors they may be having, along with any thoughts that seem to trigger them. Sometimes these things are subtle, such as a person who has a troubling thought about a loved one dying and begins immediately praying for their safety. Prayer may not seem like a ritual, but when done repetitively or as a means for alleviating an irrational thought, it can be.
Once an OCD diagnosis is made, many patients feel a sense of relief at finally having a name for their symptoms. The next step is for them to get mentally ready for treatment so they can finally become well. While OCD may not be fully curable, it is a manageable condition with the proper combination of therapies.
Medication is often recommended after an OCD diagnosis because it may help to lessen overall anxiety while other and more thorough remedies are being implemented. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most common and effective means of alleviating OCD symptoms. It works by forcing patients to think of their trigger fears or thoughts purposely, only without engaging in any rituals. For example, the woman who compulsively worries about germs may be forced to touch something she perceives as dirty without being allowed to wash her hands.
With time, and with repeated exposure to troubling thoughts or situations without the use of rituals, patients are able to “reprogram” their minds. Eventually, they are able to mentally tell themselves that their fears are unfounded, no rituals are needed, and then move their thoughts elsewhere. This is a long and tedious process for many, and there may always be a pull toward obsessive behaviors, but most are eventually able to manage these impulses.
