what is the prognosis of OCD?
481870
The average age of onset for OCD varies among men and women. Men may experience childhood onset, between ages 6 and 15, while women typically experience adult onset, between ages 20 and 30. Two-thirds of all adults with OCD had symptoms before age 15, 80% of whom also had symptoms of depression. Given the likelihood of early onset, it is alarming that the average age that a person seeks treatment is 27\n\nAlthough OCD usually develops gradually, psychosocial stressors like changes in living situations, relationship problems, or work problems can cause sudden onset. About 70% of people experience a chronic and lifelong course, with worsening and improving symptoms. About 5% have episodic symptoms with partial or complete remission between episodes.\n\nRegardless of a person’s age at onset, the content of obsessions does not determine prognosis. The factors associated with a good prognosis include the following:\n\nMilder symptoms\nBrief duration of symptoms\nGood functioning before full onset\nSome people have only the obsessions part of OCD and do not behave compulsively. These people may attempt to suppress their disturbing, intrusive, or inappropriate thoughts by thinking healthy thoughts. This may lead to mental exhaustion, distraction, or concentration problems.\n\nComplications common to OCD include anxiety (see also generalized anxiety disorder) with panic symptoms (see panic disorder), depression, and suicidal thoughts. Roughly 80% of people who suffer from OCD experience depression. These people typically have a hard time maintaining relationships, do not marry as often as others, and have occupational and school problems. Though suicidal obsessions are common in OCD, less than 1% of people with OCD kill themselves. In fact, people with OCD rarely become completely incapacitated.\n\nadvertisement\n\n\nOCD is associated with other disorders that often involve excessive attention to the body and distorted perceptions of it. About 13% of people with OCD suffer from eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Slightly more, about 15%, suffer from trichotillomania, which is the irresistible urge to pull out one’s own scalp, facial, or body hair. Between 10% and 15% experience Tourette’s syndrome, which causes involuntary muscle movements and tics, and repetitive uncontrollable speech that is often disruptive and profane. Tics are apparent in some people, especially during childhood, before OCD is diagnosed. Although its prevalence is not known, some people are affected by body dysmorphic disorder, in which they fear a certain body part is abnormal or misshapen, regardless of what others tell them.
1023993
Obssessive Compulsive Disorder is a very disturbing and impeding the life condition. The best treatment is with SSRI antidepressants(especially Venflaxine),sometimes with a combination antipsychotic drugs. The best therapies are Cognitive and Group Therapies in addition to the medications prescribed. By the way,the serotonin is not of too vital importance for OCD as to depression..As to the foods,chocolate ,bread,pasta,etcmake possible syntesing of more serotonine in the brain..Best of luck!!
200991
See a therapist or psychologist. They can help you learn techniques for dealing with the underlying anxiety and ways to compensate for it that do not involve medication. Behavioral therapy or cognitive-behavioral therapy can be very effective in treating OCD. It may also help to find some support in your area. Try finding an OCD support group in your area. Good luck to you and remember that with the right treatment and support, you can take back your life.
852682
If your therapist is good, he/she will keep working with you and work even harder because of the setbacks. Don't feel bad or hopeless because the 4 sessions haven't worked. I have bipolar disorder type I and OCD. My therapist recommended that I wear a rubber band around my wrist and everytime I get the urge to do one of my "rituals," pop the rubber band. This sends a pain signal to the brain, which helps to block the obsessive thinking. Don't worry. OCD is very hard to overcome and may never go away completely, but with the right medications and therapy, it can be tolerable. Good luck to you and hang in there. Don't give up. Hope this helps!
202862
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.\n\nCould come in the form of ticks, specific habits or rituals that need to be performed, or things have to be in an order or have certain placement.\n\nActually there was a True Life special on MTV that was very interest.
842573
I'm pretty sure you can diagnose yourself with a mental disorder. I have. But of course no one takes me seriously. lol. I guess you could be a hypochondriac... but that's also a mental disorder... and if you think you are a hypochondriac and you aren't... does that mean you really are? hahaha. \n\nMy Answer is yes. OCD is something you can usually spot pretty easily because it's things you actually do and not just things you may feel or think. I'd discuss it with someone and google it/ do some research.
407936
Terets syndrome or really bad ocd
1169620
The diagnosis could be differentiated from other known psychoses by a characteristic abnormality in eye pupil reflexes, and, eventually, the development of muscular reflex abnormalities, seizures, memory impairment (dementia) and other signs of relatively pervasive neurocerebral deterioration. Although there were recorded cases of remission of the symptoms, especially if they had not passed beyond the stage of psychosis, these individuals almost invariably suffered relapse within a few months to a few years. Otherwise, the patient was seldom able to return home because of the complexity, severity and unmanageability of the evolving symptom picture. Eventually, the patient would become completely incapacitated, bedfast, and die, the process taking about three to five years on average.
1044067
I am bipolar with mild OCD, My husband is currently hospitalized from a more severe case of the same problems.  I can't stress enough how important it is to get help for this sooner rather than later, believe it or not it can get WAY worse than your current situation.  Don't wait until you lose the job or trash your house or hurt yourself to get help. The bad news is mental health is decades or even centuries behind physical health, so our treatment options are somewhat limited.  Often behavioral or cognitive therepy can be extremely effective, even without drugs. If you don't have a psychologist, get one ASAP. \n\n            Is there a reason you don't want to use medication?  No one WANTS to use drugs if they are unnessasary, but I wonder if the anxiety about drugs is really worse than the anxiety we feel due to the compulsions. Today's drugs are compartively safer and often have fewer side effects - my only side effect from the drug I have been on for 7 years now is a mildly increased number of cavities. Even if you do decide to use drugs, talk therepy is still and important step.  If you have trouble affording it, call some local churches, they often have a marrage and family counselor on staff who will take a lower payment.  If you have insurance - your therepy, should be covered.  A good therepist should be able to help you explore non-drug options for your particular issues.  I reccomend you read up on it for yourself as well.   All the information the doctors have is availible to you at the library and online.  Know the DSMV-IV definition and the American Psyciatric Association's Treament Guidlines for your condition.  Go to a NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill)class.  You can find all of these online.  Always remember, this trouble is not because you are stupid or lack will power.\n\nOne idea for this compulsion, create a "uniform" for work.  If you are close to anyone there, and feel you can share this with them, you might even take them shopping with you.  If you wear the same one or two things every day, you will know you won't be sent home, because you weren't yesterday.  Many "normal" professionals do this, just changing the scarf or necklace and wearing basically the same thing every day.  It saves a fortune in wardrobe costs, and it has worked for me before.  Even if it works, this is a temporary fix - you need to have a therepist to help you work through the inevitable future compulsions.  Goodness, I sound like my mother.\n\nThat is all I can think of for now. Just talk, talk, talk.  Nothing fights stigma and shame like communication. Get as many positive, sane friends to put good thoughts in your head as you can.  It will give you a mental army to fight the bad thoughts.  May God bless you with an easier road in the future.
713534
Yeah. Sometimes OCD is triggered by something, like a memory or occurance. It doesn't have to be constant, but it should be fairily regularily.
181823
Assuming you mean OCPD and not OCD (as they are distinct diagnoses), there is no real treatment for the personality disorder, however your specialist should be able to advise you on how to deal with the effects so that you are able to focus on overcoming your other problems and maintaining a healthy and happy life
465956
if you have ocd you get benefit, i have it :P
533609
you probably need some intensive psychotherapy. psychotherapy for OCD is difficult but very effective. most therapists who use cognitive-behavioral therapy styles should be able to treat you for this.  \n\nMedication is a constant battle. I went through tons of them to get my moods and ocd under control. i finally ended up on paxil which i took for about 9 years before it just stopped working. then i had a breakdown and had to find something new. i now take effexor xr. find a good psychiatrist that you are comfortable with and keep trying. ocd is very biochemical and medication can be extremely helpful. \n\nAnafranil/clomipramine is the oldest drug used to treat OCD. someone mentioned it before me. it is the most effective but has some rather unpleasant side effects. It is a lot older than the newer SSRIs and other depression/anxiety treatments.\n\nOne more thing: don't mix supplements with medication, such as st. john's wart. they can have deadly interactions. ask your doctor first.
1013631
OCD and anxiety disorders can lead to other complications (depression being the most common) and unhealthy eating, drug, alcohol and exercise habits which can lead to very poor health or premature death. That is why it is important to get properly diagnosed and treated for OCD and anxiety. Anxiety disorders are the common colds of psychological disturbances: they are incredibly easy to treat and have an excellent chances for recovery.
306578
There is at present no known means of altering the disease process or the fatal outcome. The choreic movements can be controlled by the use of neuroleptic agents, including dopamine receptor blockers such as haloperidol and perphenazine, and presynaptic dopamine depletors such as reserpine. Behavioral disturbances may respond to clozapine. \nGood luck.
364079
I've been there.  I have not been diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder yet, but I do have trichtotillamania.  Trichtotillamania is very similar to OCD because the thoughts are repetitive.  Whenever I get stressed out, I HAVE TO pluck my hairs.  I am very obsessive about germs and counting, avoiding different things, eating an even number of M&M's or chips....making the table look perfectly even...doing things over and over.  I SHOULD be diagnosed, but it is not so much of a problem since it does not interfere with work or school.  Here's what I would recommend....since most people don't understand how the disorder works....\nObviously, try not to think about things, and if you do start thinking about doing something compulsive then you should focus on that and ONLY that, and do it.  It sounds like you aren't suffering from it as much as others that suffer from our problem.  Your treatment should take care of it, and, yes, it is normal for your therapist to be taking her time.\nAs far as depression goes, I was also diagnosed with manic depression.  My birthmother has bipolar disorder.  I'm not going into the differences.  However, I can tell you that Effexor XR helped me.  It may not help you because it depends on the meds they do put you on.  I had to counter the nervous effects of the antidepressant Effexor, with the anti-seizure medicine Neurontin.  So....let your psychiatrist decide what is best for you.  Do not stop taking your pills and tell your therapist if you feel any different.  Keeping a journal will help you keep track.  I hope this helps.  Good luck!
874577
I don't think there is ever a connection with OCD. I have it, too and some of the things I consistently do are really weird. Mine is a number thing mostly.