OCD

“In order to recover, we must first believe that we can.”

— OCD UK

Obsessive - Compulsive Disorder is quite common in the general population worldwide but not as well diagnosed in the developing world. It can be a very distressing and debilitating illness - especially in it’s severe form.

Obsessions and compulsions as isolated symptoms may occur in up to a tenth of the general population at any one time (Meltzer et al 1995).

This population includes children and the symptoms are usually not very serious and don’t last long.

Symptoms include:

Persistance, recurrent, ritualistic, unpleasant and intrusive thoughts
Mental images or impulses which are compulsive, cause anxiety and/or disgust and trigger attempts to avoid, remove or resist them.

These have to be present on most days for two weeks or more.