Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: An Information Guide

Description

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a severe and debilitating anxiety disorder that affects one person in 40. It affects not only how people feel or think, but also how they behave. OCD symptoms -- such as compulsive hoarding or handwashing -- often evoke uncomfortable emotions in family and friends. This guide discusses: • what OCD is and what causes it • treatments, including both cognitive and behavioural therapy and medication • recovery and relapse prevention • family involvement The guide is a thorough and helpful introduction for people with OCD, their family and friends. This edition was fully revised and updated in 2016. Contents......Page 4 Acknowledgments......Page 6 Introduction......Page 7 1 What is obsessive-compulsive disorder?......Page 8 What are obsessions?......Page 9 What are compulsions?......Page 11 How does OCD affect people?......Page 12 Diagnosing OCD......Page 13 Conditions with symptoms similar to ocd......Page 14 Psychological factors......Page 18 Biological factors......Page 21 3 Therapy for OCD......Page 25 Cognitive-behavioural therapy......Page 26 4 Medications......Page 32 Serotonin reuptake inhibitors......Page 33 Secondary medications......Page 37 Herbal treatments......Page 39 The process of recovery......Page 41 Effective relapse prevention......Page 43 Relationship with a partner or spouse......Page 47 Relationship with children......Page 48 What happens when someone you love has OCD?......Page 49 How families are affected by OCD......Page 50 When your relative is first diagnosed......Page 51 How to relate to your family member with OCD......Page 52 Taking care of yourself......Page 55 Explaining OCD to children......Page 56 Resources......Page 60 Other guides in this series......Page 62