Some general things about OCD
--OCD is an anxiety disorder. Obsessions and compulsions tend to get worse when the OCD person has increased stress. OCD symptoms tend to get better when the stress decreases.
--OCD can happen at any age, but it most commonly develops in adolescence or early-adulthood. Usually after a stressful or traumatic event.
--Most people have some obsessive tendencies. That doesn't necessarily mean they have OCD. OCD is diagnosed when a person exhibits clear symptoms, as noted in the DSM-V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition).
--There are varying degrees of OCD. While some people might have a mild form of OCD, other people may have more severe forms. OCD affects people's lives differently, and in varying degrees.
--OCD tends to change over time. A person may have a really bad period of OCD symptoms, then the symptoms will improve or lessen for a period. OCD fluctuates, usually according to stress. The more anxious a person is, the more likely their OCD will worsen.
--OCD tends to be specific and personal to each individual. Not all OCD people exhibit the classic scenario of a "clean freak." Some can actually have obsessions of filthiness, and exhibit unkempt compulsions regarding hygiene. Hoarding is a form of OCD.
--There are two forms of obsessive-compulsive illness. There's OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder), the classic illness. There's also another called OCPD (Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder). OCPD is a personality trait, whereby the person's demeanor is characterized by obsessive-compulsive actions. OCD tends to be more intense than OCPD, although both can affect a person's life. Hoarding tends to stem from OCPD, but can also be caused by OCD.
--A person can have both OCD and OCPD. One can be more prominent than the other, they can both be prominent, or they can switch in prominence. OCD can affect the person more than their OCPD during one period. Then in another period, the person's OCPD can take precedence over their OCD. Both disorders can be addressed separately or also together, as they can be linked.
--OCD and OCPD can be treated in several ways: therapy, medication, or both. Some examples of therapy and medication include:
Therapeutic Approaches
Talk therapy (traditional psychoanalytic therapy).
CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy).
DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy). Originally created for Borderline Personality Disorder, but now used for a variety of mental health issues. Basically like CBT, but with an added emotional / feeling approach. Thoughts AND feelings are addressed, whereas CBT usually focuses on thoughts.
ERP (Exposure Response Therapy). ERP gradually confronts OCD people with their obsessive and compulsive fears, thereby acclimating people to those stresses. Eventually the person will come to see they have nothing to fear, and their OCD symptoms decrease. Very effective for hard-to-treat OCD.
Medications
SSRI's (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors). Traditionally used for depression, these antidepressants can also be useful in anxiety disorders such as OCD. They increase the brain's supply of serotonin. They can vastly improve OCD symptoms.
Tricyclics. An older form of antidepressants. Tricyclics, such as Anafranil (Clomipramine) and Tofranil (Imipramine), tend to have more side-effects than SSRI's, but are just as efficient. They can improve OCD symptoms in some. Often used as a second- or third-line treatment, when the patient doesn't respond to SSRI's, or is unable to take them.
Benzodiazepines. Examples include Klonopin (clonazepam), Ativan (lorazepam), Valium (diazepam), and Xanax (alprazolam). A benzodiazepine can be used as an adjunctive medication to rapidly relieve the anxiety associated with OCD. Not usually a primary or first-line medication in the treatment of OCD.
Neuroleptics. Some neuroleptics, such as Lamictal (lamotrigine), are used to reduce anxiety in people with OCD, thereby indirectly helping to improve OCD symptoms. For example, Lamictal inhibits / lessens glutamate, the body's primary excitatory neurotransmitter, thereby allowing GABA, the body's primary inhibitory neurotransmitter, to work more efficiently.
If anyone has any questions, please feel free to ask me directly. I don't mind answering. Knowledge is not only power, but also helps win the battle against stigma and misunderstanding.
For those who are suffering from OCD or who are touched by it, I highly recommend the self-help workbook titled The OCD Workbook. It gives an excellent synopsis of what OCD is, its symptoms, and treatment options. It also begins to guide those with OCD through ERP therapy. It can be used alone, with another person, or with a therapist. http://www.amazon.com/The-OCD-Workbook-Breaking-Obsessive-Compulsive/dp/1572249218
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Chipper, I'm glad I helped you understand OCD better. :) Since I know you're a helpful soul, now you'll be able to better address those who have OCD, or who know someone who does.