Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Information for Social Security Disability Claims

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder in which sufferers are unable to control the disturbing ideas, images, and impulses that continually run through their minds. These uncontrollable thoughts are called obsessions, and can cause extreme anxiety. Often people with OCD try to relieve themselves of their obsessive thoughts by following certain rules, or performing repetitive, compulsive behaviors; 90 percent of those with OCD suffer from both obsessions and compulsions.

While performing compulsive behaviors can make obsessive feelings go away for a short time, the fear and nervousness inevitably return, forcing the person with OCD to repeat the routine all over again. Those with OCD remain locked in this uncontrollable cycle because any attempt to resist a compulsion causes their anxiety to rise to a level that is unbearable, and their tension can be relieved only by performing the required compulsive action.

The most common form of OCD is an obsessive fear of contamination. The compulsive behavior that accompanies this obsession is often a cleansing of some sort; for example, compulsive cleaning and hand washing.

The next most common form of OCD involves obsessive thoughts of pending danger or disaster, which can be relieved only by compulsively checking door locks, faucets, stoves, etc.; in some cases this checking occurs up to 100 times each day.

Other less common forms of OCD include hoarding, ordering, and perfectionism. Hoarding involves the excessive saving of both worthless items (old magazines or newspapers), and items of special interest (e.g., owning hundreds of pairs of shoes); an ordering compulsion occurs when sufferers believe they will be overwhelmed and lose control of their lives if certain items are not placed in a designated spot or order; and perfectionism compels people to repeatedly check for potential mistakes or errors that might reveal their own faults, because the thought of appearing imperfect causes them intense anxiety. People suffering from perfectionism often need constant reassurance that they have performed a task properly, both at home and in their work environment.

Symptoms usually begin in childhood or early adult life, and are equally common in men and women. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, OCD is more common than schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or panic disorder, but symptoms are often overlooked by both mental health professionals and people who themselves have the problem. Left untreated, the obsessions or compulsions can cause marked distress, become time consuming (taking up more than 1 hour a day), and may significantly interfere with the person's ability to hold a job and maintain social and personal relationships.

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