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Obsessive-compulsive disorder diagnostic criteria
Obsessive compulsive disorder and how behavioral theory explains it
Outline and evaluate the biological explanations for obsessive compulsive disorder
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Recommended: Obsessive-compulsive disorder diagnostic criteria
Nature of the Disability
Obsessive-compulsive disorder, also known as OCD, is an anxiety
disorder which, “traps people in endless cycles of repetitive thoughts and
behaviors” (WebMD, 2009). Anxiety disorders can not only affect a person’s
mental, but also their physical behavior (Hallahan, 267). Specifically, people with
OCD tend to be excessively nervous and have to perform rituals or compulsions
to help themselves deal with the anxiety. The two symptoms of OCD are
obsessions and compulsions, which can be different for every person (WebMD,
2009). Some examples of obsessions are, but are certainly not limited to, a fear
of germs, fear of thinking bad thoughts, and the one most likely to be brought up
when talking about OCD, a need for cleanliness or order (King, 2008).
To deal with these obsessions, persons with OCD may have to perform
rituals or compulsions that to an observer may seem irrational or crazy, but to the
person performing the ritual, are a necessity. A few examples of rituals would be
refusal to make physical contact with another person, constantly cleaning or
rearranging one’s room, or even checking to make sure a door is locked multiple
times (King, 2008). Most of the people afflicted with this disease know that their
own rituals are irrational and maybe even useless, but without treatment or help,
they must perform them on a daily basis to function at all.
Causes
There is some disagreement in the scientific field on the cause of OCD.
One side of researchers and scientists believe that the disease is caused by
environmental factors, or it comes as on offset of learned behavior (WebMD,
2009). Studies show that environmental stressors can lead to the onset of the
disease or a worsening of the disease by those people who already have it. In
other words, traumatic life experiences or unexpected changes in a person’s life
can “flip a switch” in someone’s brain and leave them susceptible to the mental
disease.
While these environmental stressors may leave a person more susceptible
to the disease, growing research has began to show that the disease is actually
caused by chemical imbalance in the neurons of the brain. Recent studies have
concluded that OCD can develop in a person whom has a low level of a certain
neurotransmitter, called serotonin, in their brain (King, 2...
... middle of paper ...
...(2009) Exceptional Children. Boston, Ma. Pearson
Publishing (pg. 266-267)
Hymen, B. (1999). Guidelines for Families with Children who have OCD.
Retrieved March 1, 2009, from OCD Resource Center of Florida
http://www.ocdhope.com/ocd-family-kids.php
King, S. (2008). Obsessive Compulsive Disorder & Children. Retrieved February
28, 2009, from Your Total Health
http://yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com/obsessive-compulsive-disorderchildren.
html
OCDSymptoms (2000). Common OCD Misconceptions. Retrieved March 1,
2009, from OCDSymptoms.co.uk
http://www.ocdsymptoms.co.uk/common-ocd-misconceptions.html
Packer, L. (2004). Tips for Accommodating Students with Obsessive-Compulsive
Disorder. Retrieved March 1,2009, from Tourettesyndrome.net
http://www.tourettesyndrome.net/ocd_treatment.htm
U.S. Congress Office of Technology Assessment. (1994) Mental Disorders and
Genetics: Bridging the Gap Between Research and Society. Washington
DC. U.S. Government Printing Office. (pg. 20)
WebMD. (2009). Mental Health: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Retrieved
March 1, 2009, from WebMD.com http://www.webmd.com/anxietypanic/
guide/obsessive-compulsive-disorder
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