Whelehans Pharmacy: Obsessive-compulsive Disorder
Ask your pharmacist?
Obsessive-compulsive Disorder
Eamonn Brady is a pharmacist and the owner of Whelehans Pharmacy, Pearse St, Mullingar. If you have any health questions e-mail them to info@whelehans.ie
Question
I am in my 70s and my friends are concerned about my behaviour and feel I may be suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder. I’d rather not explain what my symptoms are and I’d rather stay anonymous; however can you give me an idea of the signs of OCD which may help me decide if I need help.
Anonymous, Mullingar
Response
It would not be possible to give you all the facts about OCD in a short newspaper article, however I will give you a brief outline of the condition to help you decide whether you should seek treatment. However, I would advise discussing your concerns with your GP in confidence and he/she will advise you on the best course of action to take (if any).
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a relatively common psychiatric disorder of varying degrees of severity and it is characterised by obsessions or compulsions but commonly both. Obsessions are unwanted intrusive thoughts, images or urges that occur repeatedly and the person cannot get out of their mind. Compulsions are repetitive behaviours or mental acts that the person feels driven to carry out.
How common is OCD?
1 to 2% of the population are thought to suffer from OCD, although some studies suggest it is as high as 2 to 3%.OCD appears to be more common in women than men. OCD is sometimes linked to depression and about 50% of people suffering from OCD may also have depression.
Symptoms
Obsessions
Examples of obsessions include fear of causing harm to someone else; fear of harm coming to self; fear of contamination; need for symmetry or exactness; sexual and religious obsessions; fear of behaving unacceptably and fear of making a mistake
Compulsions
Compulsions can include behaviours such as cleaning, hand washing, checking, ordering and arranging, hoarding and asking for reassurance. Compulsions can also include mental acts such as counting, repeating words silently and constant worries about past events.
Treatment
Psychological therapy such as counselling and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy appears to be the most effective treatment option for OCD. Check out www.whelehans.ie for more info on psychological treatment of OCD.
Medication may be needed in some cases. Antidepressants called Serotonin Selective Reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) appear to be effective for OCD. SSRIs such as fluoxetine, sertraline or citalopram can be prescribed for OCD. There are no significant differences in efficacy between the different SSRIs for OCD. Higher doses of SSRIs than those used for depression may be needed to effectively treat OCD. For example, fluoxetine dose may be increased to up to 60mg for OCD. GPs often refer people to psychologists who specialise in OCD to ensure the best possible treatment options.
OCD Ireland is a national organisation for people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Their website is www.ocdireland.org and it provides great information and advice on OCD. The website also lists psychiatrists in Ireland who provide treatment of OCD.
This article is shortened to fit within Newspaper space limits. More detailed information and leaflets on OCD is available in Whelehans or at www.whelehans.ie