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Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a type of anxiety disorder. If you have OCD, you have repeated, upsetting thoughts called obsessions. You do the same thing over and over again to try to make the thoughts go away. Those repeated actions are called compulsions.
Examples of obsessions are a fear of germs or a fear of being hurt. Compulsions include washing your hands, counting, checking on things or cleaning. Untreated, OCD can take over your life.
Researchers think brain circuits may not work properly in people who have OCD. It tends to run in families. The symptoms often begin in children or teens. Treatments that combine medicines and therapy are often effective.
National Institute of Mental Health
:''For other things named "OCD", see OCD (disambiguation). For other types of "obsession", see obsession (disambiguation). For other types of "compulsion", see compulsion (disambiguation).'' '''Obsessive-compulsive disorder''' ('''OCD''') is a brain disorder, and more specifically, an anxiety disorder. OCD is manifested in a variety of forms, but is most commonly characterized by a subject's obsessive drive to perform a particular task or set of tasks, compulsions commonly termed rituals. OCD should also be distinguished from the similarly named but notably different obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, which DSM-IV define as a personality characteristic rather than an anxiety disorder. The phrase "obsessive-compulsive" has worked its way into the wider English lexicon, and is often used in an offhand sense to describe someone who is meticulous or absorbed in a cause. Such casual references should not be confused with obsessive-compulsive disorder. It is also important to distinguish OCD from other types of anxiety, including the routine tension and stress that appear throughout life. A person who shows signs of infatuation or fixation with a subject, or displays traits such as perfectionism, is not necessarily stricken with OCD, a specific and well-defined disorder.
Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders: A Comprehensive Clinical Guide - Stanford University researcher Dr. Lorrin Koran authored this book for clinicians to provide information regarding treatment of OCD.
An Evolutionary Hypothesis For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - Abed, Riadh T and de Pauw, Karel W (1999) An Evolutionary Hypothesis for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Psychological Immune System?. Behavioural Neurology 11:245-250.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder : Helping Children & Adolescents - Helps parents secure a diagnosis, manage family life, understand medical interventions, explore therapeutic interventions, get care within their existing healthcare plan, and navigate the special education system.
University of Chicago Laboratory for Developmental Neuroscience - Dedicated to studying the molecular basis of pediatric onset neuropsychiatric disorders. Now working with collaborators on the molecular genetics of autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, childhood onset obsessive-compulsive disorder, stuttering, adolescent depression, and pediatric and early onset bipolar mood disorder.
Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adults - Articles on the diagnosis and treatment of separation anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and agoraphobia.
UCLA Child and Adolescent Anxiety Program - A source of information regarding the more common types of anxiety disorders, such as separation anxiety, panic disorder, social phobias, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents - Anxiety Disorders in children and adolescents including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, phobias and posttraumatic stress disorder.
Phobia Center of Dallas and Ft. Worth - Information on panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, trichotillomania, social phobia, fear of public speaking, checkride anxiety, specific phobias, fear of flying, and performance anxiety.
Yahoo! Health - Anxiety Health Center - Information on anxiety, worry, stress, rumination, shyness, panic disorders, separation anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, situation anxiety, phobia, and stress management.
Anxieties.com - A free self-help site for persons suffering from an anxiety disorder, including panic attacks, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), fear of flying, and post-traumatic stress disorder.