Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an “invisible burden” and two in three people suffering from the debilitating condition go undiagnosed, experts have warned.
Doctors said that while conditions like ADHD receive the public attention they deserve, OCD is not well understood by the public and often goes untreated.
They claim that while an estimated 750,000 Britons suffer from OCD, only a third receive medical help, putting some at greater risk of suicide.
Common misconceptions about the condition mean that sufferers often don’t realize they have it and doctors may not recognize the signs either.
Now specialists are launching a campaign to highlight symptoms that often go unnoticed.
OCD is a mental health condition characterized by obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors that people struggle to control. Incessant handwashing for fear of contracting an illness is a common example listed by the NHS
These include constantly questioning his sexuality, being very superstitious about certain numbers and colors, and praying “excessively.”
OCD is a mental health condition characterized by obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors that people struggle to control.
Examples include having an overwhelming fear of being robbed, meaning that a person has to check that their doors and windows are locked several times before leaving the house or going to sleep.
Cases are also known to affect new mothers who may obsessively check whether their baby is breathing or worry incessantly about sterilizing feeding bottles, for fear of harming their newborn.
And while people who say they have “a little OCD” often joke on social media about things like tidiness, real-life examples of the condition can be seriously disturbing and distressing.
However, despite this, many people suffer in silence due to shame or embarrassment about their condition, says Dr Himanshu Tyagi, neuropsychiatrist at Priory mental health centre.
It warned that, in addition to what can be serious physical and mental burdens, undiagnosed OCD sufferers can also suffer up to £1m in lost income over a 40-year period.
Another common form of OCD is compulsively checking that doors are locked for fear of being robbed.
As such, it calls for greater awareness of OCD not only among potential patients and their friends and family, but also among medical professionals.
“We are experiencing a mental health crisis, but while there is growing public awareness about conditions such as ADHD, anxiety and depression, OCD remains a widely misunderstood illness,” he said.
‘Severe OCD can be as disabling as other serious mental health conditions and significantly impact a person’s ability to function in daily life.
“Unfortunately, only about a third of patients with OCD will ever receive a clinical diagnosis, in part due to a limited understanding of the disease, especially in its early stages or milder presentations, when they are also likely to respond better to treatment.” “.
Speaking as part of OCD Awareness Week, Dr Tyagi added thatWithout treatment, the compulsions of those with OCD can increase and intensify, becoming increasingly disruptive to a person’s life and, in some cases, even becoming life-threatening.
Karen Katz, OCD therapy lead at Priory Hospital North London, said many people overlook how debilitating the condition can be, with some even perceiving it as a positive trait linked to a desire for “order or cleanliness”. stock image
“Chronic OCD leads to high rates of hospitalization and suicide attempts, significantly reduces people’s chances of experiencing healthy relationships, and prevents people from living normal, happy lives,” he said.
“People who suffer from OCD often carry an invisible burden, with compulsions or thoughts that others cannot easily see.”
“OCD places such a heavy burden on sufferers because it affects people in their formative years, leaving the person without the skills needed for daily living, sometimes even after successful treatment.”
Karen Katz, OCD therapy lead at Priory Hospital North London, added that many people overlook how debilitating the condition can be, and some even perceive it as a positive trait.
“The image of OCD as a positive personality trait could not be further from the truth, and it is important to distinguish between normal preferences for order or cleanliness and OCD,” he said.
“OCD involves distressing, time-consuming obsessions and compulsions that significantly interfere with daily life.”
People with potential OCD symptoms, such as frequent obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours, are encouraged to refer to the NHS. talk therapies or contact your GP.
OCD covers a number of potential behaviors with examples including distressing thoughts of a violent nature to incessant hand washing for fear of contracting an illness.
As such, doctors do not limit the type of behavior or thoughts when diagnosing OCD, but instead focus more on the relationship between obsession and compulsion.
The obsessive part of OCD is anything that causes unpleasant feelings of fear or anxiety, such as the doors to your house being open.
This in turn triggers the compulsion, the need to do something to relieve the distress that the obsession has caused, even though it may seem excessive and even unrealistic to the original fear.
Treatment for OCD usually consists of therapy, but if this is not successful, it is sometimes combined with medications such as antidepressants that can combat some of the symptoms.
Experts are still trying to figure out what exactly causes OCD.
There is some evidence that it may be hereditary, although it is not clear whether it is purely genetic or a behavior learned during childhood.
Other theories point to a chemical imbalance in the brain and that is why antidepressants work, traumatic life events and personality type with some evidence that tidy or more anxious people are at higher risk of developing OCD.