Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Discuss the Disease in Terms of its Prevalence in the US, Comorbidity, Symptoms and Diagnostic Criteria (Coursework Sample)

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
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Introduction
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder whereby victims or patients experience unreasonable fears and nervousness, thus leading to repetitive behaviors. The unreasonable thoughts are inappropriate obsessions that occur persistently and can cause distress on the patient. Repetitive behaviors, on the other hand, are compulsions that the patient experiences as a result of the obsessions associated with the disorder. Although OCD patients may realize their unrealistic obsessions and repetitive behaviors, they may not manage in stopping them unless they receive proper diagnosis or treatment from a health care provider. The persistent behaviors disrupt the patient’s social activities, schoolwork and job among others. The following paper will discuss the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of OCD. It will begin with a brief overview of the prevalence of the disease.
Prevalence of OCD
Studies show that OCD has become more prevalent than we would think. The 2001 health report by the World Health Organization suggests that OCD was among the leading causes of disability for patients aged between 15 and 44. There are more research works that confirm OCD to be the fourth common mental disorder after depression, phobia and substance abuse. Past studies suggest that OCD is not common among the adolescents and children. However, recent studies show that ‘lifetime’ prevalence of the disorder in children is about 2% worldwide. ‘Lifetime’ in this case is the percentage of patients, who at one time in their lives have had OCD.
Researchers also argue that the illness’ prevalence rate is lower in young children but increases during adolescence. In fact, experts in this filed suggest that the OCD is a common psychiatric disorder that affects adolescents and children. Therefore, it is most probably professional teachers in primary and high schools will encounter students suffering from the mental illness. Studies further shows that OCD affects both male and female children as well as adults. The mental disorder is also not discriminate on the basis of race and ethnicities. It has also been proven that the disease affects people from any socio-economic level in America and other countries around the globe. However, clinical samples collected from the US found the disease to be more prevalent among the Caucasians than the minority groups.
Comorbidity of OCD
Are OCD patients likely to have comorbid depressions? Experts in this field have sought to unfold the facts surrounding this question and have concluded that the patients are most likely to have co-existing depressions and other mental-related disorders like unusual anxiety. Common concurrent illnesses identified in patients with OCD include major depression, eating disorder, simple phobia, social phobia, Tourette’s syndrome and panic disorder. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is mostly associated with increased risk of abuse and dependence of alcohol. Evidence shows that the rate of OCD in alcoholic patient is higher than patients who do not depend on alcohol. Studies further suggest that body dysmorphic disorder is also prevalent among the OCD patients.
Symptoms of OCD
Research shows that the symptoms of OCD begin gradually and become more serious throughout the patient’s life and become worse when the patient experience intense stress (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2013). Major Signs include both the sign of compulsions and obsessions. However, medics argue that a patient may experience the obsession symptoms and lack compulsion symptoms and vice versa. The signs of obsessions are unwanted and persistent images that bring about anxiety and distress. Usually, patients try to erase these images by performing rituals. Major obsession symptoms include fear of contamination through handshakes from other people and having doubts that you have done something. For instance, an OCD patient may have doubts whether he or she has locked his or her house door (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2013). Other signs include distress due to unpleasant images, intense stress ad acting in appropriately. Patient with OCD may also experience disturbing images in their minds suggesting that they are hurting themselves or others (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2013).
As earlier mentioned, compulsions are the repetitive behaviors that the patient is driven to perform due to the obsessions. However, experts argue that engaging in repetitive behaviors is not a permanent solution the obsessions, but rather relieves the anxiety. The signs of compulsions include counting numbers in patterns, repeating words silently and arranging goods to stay in a certain way. The patient may also frequently check if something is done properly. For instance, the patient may frequently check to confirm whether the door is locked. Patients suspecting to have the illness to have the disease or whose obsessions are affecting their life should consult their doctors immediately for counseling and treatment (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2013).
Diagnosis criteria
The diagnosis process of OCD begins by the doctor assessing the patient and ca...