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__**Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)**__ > OCD is an anxiety disorder that is associated with obsessions and complusions.

--> thoughts, images, or impluses that repeatedly enter the mind, and feel out of the individuals control --> accompanied by troubling feelings that can take many forms, such as fear of apprehension, anxiety, disgust, tension, or a sensation that things are just "not right". --> recent research shows that the symptoms of OCD follow a few broad themes; within these themes, obsessions can take a countless number of forms: 1) Contamination: fears of germs, dirtiness, chemicals, AIDS. 2) Symmetry: exactness of belongings, spoken or written words, the way one moves 3) Doubting: whether appliances are turned off, doors are locked, wriitten work is accurate.
 * Obsessions:**

4) Aggressive Impulses: thoughts of stabbing one's children, psuking loved one's into traffic. 5) Accidental Harm to Others: fears of contaminating or poisoning a loved one. 6) Religion: sexual thoughts about a holy person, satanic thoughts, distressing thoughts regarding mortality. 7) Sexual: thoughts about personally upsetting sexual acts

--> the distressing feelings that arise from obsessions motivate people with OCD to engage in specific behaviours or rituals that may temporarily provide relief from their distress --> compulsions are acts the person feels driven to perform over and over again --> OCD compulsions do not give the person pleasure; they are performed to obtain relief from discomfort cause by the obsessions --> like obsessions, compulsions can take many forms: 1) Washing & Cleaning 2) Checking 3) Counting 4) Repeating Actions or Thoughts 5) Need to Ask/Confess
 * Compulsions:**

--> Avoidance: Compulsions are performed in the attempt to reduce negative emotions, such as anxiety, that arise from obsessions. People with OCD often avoid situations that provoke obsessions. --> Thought Suppression: Some obsessions, particularly those that are personally offensive or frightening, can prompt the person to spend a lot of energy deliberately trying to force obsessive thoughts out of awareness or to suppress them.
 * Other Behavioural Features of OCD**

--> Based on criteria from the Fourth Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders:
 * Official Diagnostic Criteria for OCD**
 * A recognition that the obsessions or compulsions cause significant distress or significant interference in the person's day-to-day life
 * The individual's obsessions or compulsions are excessive or unreasonable (doesn't apply to children)
 * If another psychological problem is present, the obsessions and compulsions are not restricted to it. For example, people with bulimia often ruminate about food and engage in repetitive behaviours, such as binge eating and purging (not considered OCD)
 * The obsessions and compulsions are not simply due to a substance or medical condition.

-> There are many different factors that contribute to the growth of OCD, but majority of sources cannot pin point a direct cause for the disorder. One site has mentioned that researchers have not yet found a genetic link, or gene that would lead to OCD, but it has been known to pass family members through generations. It could possibly be learned, but it cannot be proven because of the variety of symptoms displayed through the family members.
 * What is the Cause of OCD?**

It is common to find issues between the front and deeper parts of the brain//. (Probelms in communications between the corbital structures and the basal ganglia.) __-OCF Obssesive Compulsive Foundation__// This communication contains natural serotonin (a natural substance found in our bodies,) and in some researched OCD cases have had a lack of serotonin in the previously mentioned areas of the brain. Serotonin is also found in many anti depressants and it has helped some patients with OCD to take anti depressants to control the levels of serotonin in their brain. The exact cause of OCD has not been found depending on what facotrs contributed to the disorder might counter act on the treatment. For example it has been sugested that OCD could in a sence be "triggered" when the person starts relating an unpleasant emotion to an object and then eventually creating thier own rituals to aviod them. There are many variations of this, but if the persons OCD was "triggered" then behavioural psychotheraphy may be needed as oppose to giving the person porzac (a brand of anti- depressants.) With the behavioural model the person would have to discard these rituals from their daily habits.

__//David Beckham-//__ A worldwide famous English soccer (also called football) player married to Victoria Beckham or "Posh Spice" from the band Spice Girls father of two. //__Jessica Alba-__// American Actress seen in movies such as Good Luck Chuck, Sin City 2, Fantastic Four, and Awake, recently gave birth to a girl. //__Donald Trump-__// Host and producer of the television show The Apprentice has had three spouses five children and is a very wealthy entrepreneur.
 * Familar Faces? Famous People With OCD:**

//__Howie Mandel-__// Canadian comedian and host of television show Deal or no Deal. __//Penelope Cruz-//__ Spanish Actress starring in American filems such as Blow, Vanilla Sky, and Bandidas

__//Charlie Sheen-//__ American actor, has been on such flims as Platoon, Scary Movie 4 and Spin City. Also a star in the televison series Two and a Half Men

//__Howard Hughes-__// Flew planes, was a producer and director, in his time was one of the richest people in the world.

//__Marc Summers-__// American television host and comedian.



//__Leanardo Dicaprio-__// American actor seen in many films, such as Blood Diamond, Catch me if you Can, Titanic, Gangs of New York and The Departed.