Clinical Features of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder featuring intrusive and troubling symptoms, which are perceived as the products of one's own mind unlike schizophrenia. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterized by absurd, recurrent and persistent thoughts (obsessions) followed by certain stereotyped actions (compulsions). The OCD patients realize the irrational nature of thoughts and rituals but feel helpless and hopeless about controlling them. The obsessive thoughts about cleanliness, exactness and household tools responsible for anxiety are apparently neutralized by repetitive rituals such as excessive and repetitive cleaning, arranging, checking and rechecking. Numerous genes modulating the serotonin and dopaminergic systems are thought to participate in the pathophysiology of OCD. There have been positive results with the association between polymorphism in the gene coding for D₄ dopamine receptor and OCD. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder can impair all areas of brain functioning and produce devastating effects on patients and their families. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and to some extent tricyclic antidepressants form the main stay in the symptomatic treatment of OCD. However, none of these drugs provide complete relief and permanent cure.