Obsessive Compulsive Spectrum Disorders
Unlike traditional psychiatry, which rarely looks at the brain, Amen Clinics uses brain imaging technology to identify brain patterns associated with obsessive compulsive disorder and related conditions.
What are Obsessive Compulsive Spectrum Disorders?
Obsessive compulsive spectrum disorders (OCSD), commonly referred to as OCD, are serious and often debilitating disorders that are characterized by recurring thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions). Most people experience intrusive thoughts from time to time and may be momentarily concerned, but they are able to put these thoughts aside and carry on. Individuals may also have looping thoughts or everyday routines that don’t interfere with work, school, or home life. It’s when persistent thoughts and time-consuming rituals become distressing and cause trouble in your daily personal and professional activities that they are signs of OCD. (See more about obsessions, compulsions, and other OCSD conditions below.)
Who Has It?
In the U.S., about 1 in 40 adult and 1 in 200 children are affected by OCD. Although the onset of OCD can occur at any age, it is typically diagnosed by age 19. According to statistics, men and women are equally likely to have the condition, but boys tend to be diagnosed at a younger age than girls.
What are Common Symptoms?
Symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Spectrum Disorders include:
- Rituals
- Excessive washing and cleaning
- Counting (including ending on a “safe” number)
- Checking (e.g. checking if door is locked)
- Repeating (such as a name or phrase)
- Touching (especially in a sequence)
- Arranging objects (in a precise way)
What Causes It?
Although the exact cause of OCSD is not fully understood, studies have shown that a combination of biological and environmental factors may be involved. Research shows that OCSD tends to run in families, suggesting that genes likely play a role in the development of the disorder. However, genetics appear to be only partly responsible for causing the disorder. Environmental stressors may trigger OCSD in people with a predisposition for the condition or cause a worsening of symptoms.
Untreated OCD can have alarming consequences and is associated with higher incidences of:
- Decreased concentration
- Short-term memory problems
- Job failure
- Academic failure
- Social isolation
- Physical exhaustion
- Emotional exhaustion
- Substance abuse
- Depression
- Panic attacks
- Suicidal thoughts
Why Choose Amen Clinics for Treating OCD?
Many mental health conditions can be misdiagnosed, but OCD is one of the most likely to be mistaken for other conditions because it involves so many overlapping symptoms. At Amen Clinics, we take a unique brain-body approach to evaluation that includes brain SPECT imaging to make an accurate diagnosis of OCSD conditions. This helps you find out what is causing the obsessive compulsive symptoms you are experiencing and treat the underlying cause, rather than just trying to use a band-aid to mask the symptoms.
OCD Brains Work Differently
In people with OCSD, brain SPECT studies have shown increased blood flow specifically in two regions of the brain—the basal ganglia and anterior cingulate gyrus.
- Basal ganglia: This region helps set the body’s anxiety level and is involved in forming habits. When there is too much activity in the basal ganglia, it is associated with increased anxiety and heightened fear.
- Anterior cingulate gyrus (ACG): This area is involved in allowing people to shift attention from subject to subject. When the ACG is overactive, people tend to get “stuck” on the same thought or behavior.
Healthy Brain Scan
OCD Brain Scan
SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) is a nuclear medicine study that evaluates blood flow and activity in the brain. Basically, it shows three things: healthy activity, too little activity, or too much activity. A healthy “active” scan shows the most active parts of the brain with blue representing the average activity and red (or sometimes red and white) representing the most active parts of the brain. In the healthy scan on the left, the most active area is in the cerebellum, at the back/bottom part of the brain. In the OCD brain on the right, there is evidence of hyperfrontality indicating excessive activity.
Ready to learn more? Speak to a care coordinator today!
Contact UsWhat are Obsessions and Compulsions?
Obsessions are recurring thoughts, impulses, or mental images that are intrusive, usually senseless, sometimes frightening, and often repulsive. These unwanted thoughts can trigger distressing feelings of anxiety or disgust. People with OCD often make a great effort to suppress or resist these mental images, but the more a person tries to control them, the more powerful they become. Compulsions are behaviors that are performed persistently and repetitively without leading to an actual reward or pleasure. Often, compulsions are an attempt to make obsessions go away and to reduce the anxiety caused by the obsessions. There is an urgent insistent sense of “I have to do it” inside. Obsessions often involve repetitive thoughts and fears about:
- Germs or contamination
- Forbidden sexuality
- Harm or violence
- Losing control
- Religion
- A need for symmetry or perfectionism
Compulsions are often performed according to certain rules in a very strict or rigid manner and can result in elaborate rituals. The most common compulsions include:
- Rituals
- Excessive washing and cleaning (such as hand-washing or household cleaning)
- Counting (including wanting to end on a “good” or “safe” number)
- Checking (such as checking the door is locked or the stove is turned off)
- Repeating (such as a name, phrase, or prayer)
- Touching (especially in a particular sequence)
- Arranging objects (ordering items in a precise or symmetrical way)
Many people with OCD recognize that their obsessive thoughts are senseless and that their compulsions are outside normal behavior, but they can’t control them. Other individuals with the condition don’t see that there’s anything abnormal about their thoughts or behaviors. For example, with children, it is more likely to be a parent or teacher that notices the distressing symptoms.
Other OCSD Conditions
Obsessive Compulsive Spectrum Disorders (OCSD) comprise several conditions that have obsessive compulsive qualities. In addition to OCD, some of these other conditions include:
- Trichotillomania (hair pulling)
- Dermatillomania (skin picking)
- Onychophagia (nail biting)
- Tourette’s Syndrome (tic disorder)
- Kleptomania (compulsive stealing)
- Compulsive shopping
- Hoarding disorder
- Body Dysmorphic Disorder (unreasonably feeling a part of the body is excessively ugly)
- Hypochondriasis (excessive preoccupation with or worry about having a serious illness)
- Oppositional Defiant Disorder (persistent arguing)
The course of OCSD is quite varied. Symptoms may come and go, ease over time, or get worse. If the symptoms become severe, OCSD can keep a person from working or carrying out normal responsibilities at home.
Why Misdiagnosis and Improper Treatment is Common
Many mental health conditions can be misdiagnosed, but OCD is one of the most likely to be mistaken for other conditions because it involves so many overlapping symptoms. In fact, a 2015 study among primary care physicians found that half of OCD cases were misdiagnosed. OCD can be misdiagnosed as ADD/ADHD, anxiety, bipolar disorder, autism, PTSD, or even schizophrenia.
Getting an accurate diagnosis is critical since the treatments for these conditions differ dramatically. And the wrong treatment plan can make a person with OCD worse. For example, giving stimulant medication, which is commonly used to treat ADD/ADHD, can exacerbate some OCD symptoms.
In addition, like many other conditions, OCD is not just a single and simple disorder. In terms of treatment, one size does NOT fit all. Giving everybody the same OCD treatment may help some people but can make others worse. It is imperative to find out what is causing the obsessive compulsive symptoms you are experiencing and treat the underlying cause, rather than just trying to use a band-aid to mask the symptoms.
“With A Better Brain Comes A Better Life”
– Daniel G. Amen, M.D.
