Understanding OCD: Causes and Therapies

PSYCHOLOGY: 1
Contents
Answer to Q.1).......................................................................................................................................2
Introduction.......................................................................................................................................2
Causes of OCD...................................................................................................................................2
Conclusion.........................................................................................................................................3
References.........................................................................................................................................4
Answer to Q.2).......................................................................................................................................5
Answer to Q. 3)......................................................................................................................................8
References...........................................................................................................................................16

PSYCHOLOGY: 2
Answer to Q.1).
Introduction
OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) is a mental state of a person generally marked by non-
controllable and repetitive thoughts. Person suffering from this disorder are unable to control
to control their thought process for more than a short period (Newman et al., 2015). This
Anxiety disorder leads to some actions such as checking the door again and again whether it
is locked or not, checking the gas stove more than 50 times just to make sure that it is turned
off, scrubbing the hands when they are already washed, and counting the things (Rodrigo et
al., 2017).
Causes of OCD
Generally, most people suffering with OCD fall into particular categories suffer common
obsessions such as they are afraid of contamination, excessive focus on moral ideas and
religion, fear of losing people and have hand wash compulsion. The category is not limited to
checkers and washers. These people are obsessed with symmetry and order. People also have
superstitions regarding certain colours, arrangements, and numbers. People pertaining to
OCD may also suffer from other disorders such as PTSD, Kleptomania, skin picking,
compulsive buying, and tic disorders (Lochner, Stein, and Taljaard, 2017).
According to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Los Angeles (2018), it is to characterise the key
features of behavioural theory with OCD is the psychological elaboration that suggests that
person suffering from OCD associates certain conditions, situations, and objects with fear. As
per the study of Thompson et al., 2017, the behavioural changes are seen as they start
avoiding the situation they fear from and perform several rituals which helps to reduce fear. It
is the extreme form of behaviour, which reinforces “learned avoidance” of certain objects and
situations. Superstition Hypothesis derived that people who develops OCD started associating
behaviour and reinforces it (Genetics et al., 2018).

PSYCHOLOGY: 3
According to the theory given by Newman, Castonguay, Jacobson, & Moore, (2015), a
cognitive psychological theory examine the inner mental problems and strives to behave in
such a manner to reduce the OCD obsessions. Cognitive theory gives the solutions and take
form of insights, algorithms, and heuristics. The theory includes memory, knowledge
representation, language thinking, and numerical cognition. The cognitive theory offer single
explanation that OCD do have faulty behavioural traits and is unable to avoid disturbing
thoughts. As per the study of Thompson et al., 2017, the victims of OCD have the though
obsessions regarding if they do not follow a particular and certain behaviour, this will result
into bad and negative actions. This forces them to perform a compulsion action. Several
factors that comes under the cognitive theory develops OCD as people are extremely aware
of surroundings and focus more on the situations that are perceived as threat to them
(Genetics et al., 2018).
As per the study of Rodrigo et al., 2017, these people suffer from the memory loss issues and
conjunction factors with wrong thinking that causes OCD (obsessive-compulsive order).
Moreover, OCD is not about biting nails and thinking negatively. This disorder can affect the
personal relationships and professional life that will keep away the normal life. The actions
and thoughts go beyond the control. For example- An over obsessive thought is to think that
family members may get hurt if they do not clean their room and arrange their clothes in
proper order (Thompson et al., 2017). There is a strong possibility that they starts behaving in
such a manner that does not make sense.
Conclusion
A person suffering from OCD is caught in the vicious cycle of compulsion and obsessions.
These obsessions are intrusive thoughts and unwanted urges, which trigger distressing
feelings. OCD people perform some compulsion behaviour to avoid negative and bad
outcome. The pressure of performing a compulsive activity is so high that people cannot