Dec 22, 2011
— read in fullGuide to OCD
3 out of every 100 young people are affected by obsessive-compulsive disorder. Read on to find out more about the condition.
What is OCD?
OCD is an anxiety-related disorder in which sufferers carry out actions and rituals to stop them worrying about things. The condition can be extremely debilitating, especially if the sufferer also has depression.
Who does it affect?
It affects about 3 percent of the population, so in a school year group of 100 young people, you are likely to find three students suffering from it.
Common OCD cases involve individuals believing their hands are contaminated, leading to excessive handwashing, even to the point where the skin cracks and bleeds.
Some fear that they might hurt a loved one, so they avoid that person or repeatedly ask for reassurance that they are OK.
Another common example is obsessing about perfection. Sufferers arrange all the items on their desk in line with or at right angles to each other. Or they fear they have left something important at home, which leads them to check their bag repeatedly.
What causes it?
Doctors believe it’s caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Having a parent with OCD can increase the likelihood of a young person developing it. Research also suggests that OCD may be brought on by the streptococcus bacteria.
Treatments
Young people with OCD may not feel comfortable talking about the illness. However, they can get support from their GP and school. Doctors will often recommend a course of cognitive-behavioural therapy. In severe cases, or where an individual also has depression, sufferers might be offered Prozac to help alleviate anxiety and reduce depression.
Related links
- www.ocduk.org is the country’s leading charity on OCD. It offers an online forum for OCD sufferers
- Speak to other OCD sufferers by visiting www.ocdforums.org
- Find out how OCD affects young lives by visiting www.ocdyouth.info
Your shout!
Have you had an experience with OCD? What did you do to help overcome it? Share your thoughts by posting a comment using the link below.
