Psi Chi/ PSAPsi Chi/ PSA

October 21, 2009October 21, 2009

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Sunday October 25thSunday October 25th 1:00 pm in the 1:00 pm in the

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Michigan State Psychology268-356 Psychology Bldg, East Lansing, MI 48824

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Turn right to merge onto US-127 N toward Flint ClareDestination will be on the rightAbout 26 minsgo 27.3 mitotal 29.6 mi

8614 U.S. 127, Saint Johns, MI 48879

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Thursday November Thursday November 12th 12th

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Origami Volunteering Info

Date: Tuesday, Nov. 3Time: 7PM

What: Bonfire and S’mores with the residents!

Fill in the sign-up sheet if you are interested! This will be a lot of fun and will look great

on a resume!

O.C.D.O.C.D.

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1. What is OCD?1. What is OCD?

OCD stands for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. It is a disorder OCD stands for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. It is a disorder which causes an individual to have intrusive thoughts of a which causes an individual to have intrusive thoughts of a frightening or disturbing nature, which in turn may cause the frightening or disturbing nature, which in turn may cause the person to do things repeatedly. They might perform certain rituals person to do things repeatedly. They might perform certain rituals to guard against danger, or clean one's self or personal areas of to guard against danger, or clean one's self or personal areas of home or work again and again.home or work again and again.

ob·ses·sionob·ses·sion n.n. 1. Compulsive preoccupation with a fixed idea or 1. Compulsive preoccupation with a fixed idea or an unwanted feeling or emotion, often accompanied by symptoms an unwanted feeling or emotion, often accompanied by symptoms of anxiety. 2. A compulsive, often unreasonable idea or emotion. of anxiety. 2. A compulsive, often unreasonable idea or emotion.

com·pul·sioncom·pul·sion n.n. 1. a. The act of compelling. b. The state of being 1. a. The act of compelling. b. The state of being compelled. 2. a. An irresistible impulse to act, regardless of the compelled. 2. a. An irresistible impulse to act, regardless of the rationality of the motivation. b. An act or acts performed in rationality of the motivation. b. An act or acts performed in response to such an impulse. response to such an impulse.

2. How common is OCD in 2. How common is OCD in the U.S.?the U.S.?

Although once thought to be rare, Although once thought to be rare, OCD afflicts as many as five million AmericansAmericans, or one in fifty. The disorder , or one in fifty. The disorder is found uniformly among men, women, is found uniformly among men, women, children, and people of all races and children, and people of all races and socio-economic backgrounds socio-economic backgrounds

33. What are some of the . What are some of the symptoms of OCD?symptoms of OCD?

Symptoms and behaviors associated with Symptoms and behaviors associated with OCD are wide and varied. The primary OCD are wide and varied. The primary thing they have in common is they are thing they have in common is they are generally unwanted behaviors and/or generally unwanted behaviors and/or thoughts that occur very frequently — i.e., thoughts that occur very frequently — i.e., several times a day. Symptoms, if several times a day. Symptoms, if untreated, may progress to the point of untreated, may progress to the point of taking up all of a sufferer's waking hours. taking up all of a sufferer's waking hours.

Checking things repeatedly, such as Checking things repeatedly, such as doors, locks, stoves, etc. doors, locks, stoves, etc.

Constant counting, "in one's head" or Constant counting, "in one's head" or outwardly, while performing routine tasks. outwardly, while performing routine tasks.

"Having" to do things a certain number of "Having" to do things a certain number of times. An example of this would be: when times. An example of this would be: when taking a shower, "having" to wash the left taking a shower, "having" to wash the left foot three times. foot three times.

Obsessively arranging things in an Obsessively arranging things in an extremely orderly fashion -- which often extremely orderly fashion -- which often makes no sense to anyone save the OCD makes no sense to anyone save the OCD sufferer. sufferer.

Pictures, words or images that "pop" into Pictures, words or images that "pop" into head and won't go away -- usually of a head and won't go away -- usually of a disturbing nature. disturbing nature.

Nonsensical words or phrases repeating Nonsensical words or phrases repeating themselves in the person's mind. themselves in the person's mind.

The "what if's"..... The "what if's"..... Hoarding of objects with usually no Hoarding of objects with usually no

apparent value -- as in one man collected apparent value -- as in one man collected small pieces of lint from the dryer. The small pieces of lint from the dryer. The person usually saves such objects under person usually saves such objects under the rationalization of "what if I need it/them the rationalization of "what if I need it/them someday?" or is just unable to decide what someday?" or is just unable to decide what to discard.to discard.

Excessive fear of contamination -- as in Excessive fear of contamination -- as in fears to touch normal everyday things fears to touch normal everyday things because they might have germs.because they might have germs.

4. True or False: All people with 4. True or False: All people with OCD are 'washers' or OCD are 'washers' or 'checkers'.'checkers'.

False. OCD manifests itself in a large False. OCD manifests itself in a large variety of ways, and individuals usually variety of ways, and individuals usually suffer from a combination of symptoms. suffer from a combination of symptoms. However, most people with OCD share However, most people with OCD share common difficulties in daily activities, common difficulties in daily activities, such as tardiness, perfectionism, such as tardiness, perfectionism, procrastination, indecision, procrastination, indecision, discouragement and family difficulties. discouragement and family difficulties.

5. True or False: Someone who has any of the symptoms or 5. True or False: Someone who has any of the symptoms or behaviors that characterize the disorder will be diagnosed with behaviors that characterize the disorder will be diagnosed with OCD.OCD.

False. Diagnosis depends upon the False. Diagnosis depends upon the degree in which the symptoms or degree in which the symptoms or behaviors interfere with their thinking, behaviors interfere with their thinking, reasoning, and/or life functioning. If these reasoning, and/or life functioning. If these symptoms do not have a negative impact symptoms do not have a negative impact on your daily life, you probably are not on your daily life, you probably are not suffering from OCD.suffering from OCD.

6. Why doesn't an individual 6. Why doesn't an individual with OCD "just stop" their with OCD "just stop" their behavior?behavior?

Most truly wish they could. Probably the biggest reason why they Most truly wish they could. Probably the biggest reason why they do not "just stop" is anxiety. The person with OCD suffers intense do not "just stop" is anxiety. The person with OCD suffers intense anxiety over whatever their symptoms focus upon. They want to anxiety over whatever their symptoms focus upon. They want to "make sure" that whatever they are focusing upon is taken care "make sure" that whatever they are focusing upon is taken care of. OCD is a disease of doubt, therefore the person with OCD of. OCD is a disease of doubt, therefore the person with OCD feels they can never be sure that whatever it is is really taken care feels they can never be sure that whatever it is is really taken care of. Often this will show in the form of a compulsion such as of. Often this will show in the form of a compulsion such as hand washing. The person cannot, no matter how hard they try, . The person cannot, no matter how hard they try, feel that their hands are really clean. There is always a "what if" feel that their hands are really clean. There is always a "what if" such as "what if I missed a teeny tiny little spot?" and so they such as "what if I missed a teeny tiny little spot?" and so they continue to wash — just in case. With a compulsion, the anxiety continue to wash — just in case. With a compulsion, the anxiety rises to unbearable and terrifying levels if the compulsion is not rises to unbearable and terrifying levels if the compulsion is not allowed to take place. allowed to take place.

7. True or False: Everyone 7. True or False: Everyone suffering with OCD has suffering with OCD has obsessions and compulsions.obsessions and compulsions.

False. Though approximately 80 percent False. Though approximately 80 percent of people with OCD have both identifiable of people with OCD have both identifiable obsessions and compulsions, about 20 obsessions and compulsions, about 20 percent have only obsessions or percent have only obsessions or compulsions. compulsions.

8. True or False: A person 8. True or False: A person suffering from OCD is crazy.suffering from OCD is crazy.

False. A person who does not recognize False. A person who does not recognize that their behaviors and thoughts are that their behaviors and thoughts are abnormal is "psychotic." Most people with abnormal is "psychotic." Most people with OCD OCD areare aware that their behavior does aware that their behavior does not make sense. People with OCD are not make sense. People with OCD are not crazy. not crazy.

9. Is OCD psychological, 9. Is OCD psychological, biological or both?biological or both?

OCD is usually considered to have both OCD is usually considered to have both psychological and biological components. psychological and biological components. OCD-like behavior has been observed in OCD-like behavior has been observed in animals, including dogs, horses, and birds. animals, including dogs, horses, and birds. Specific brain abnormalities have been Specific brain abnormalities have been identified that mediate the expression of OCD identified that mediate the expression of OCD symptoms. These brain abnormalities improve symptoms. These brain abnormalities improve with successful treatment by either medication with successful treatment by either medication or behavioral therapy. or behavioral therapy.

10. True or False: Stress can 10. True or False: Stress can affect OCD. affect OCD.

True. It is typical to notice a worsening of True. It is typical to notice a worsening of OCD symptoms during stressful periods. OCD symptoms during stressful periods. Stress does not cause OCD, but a Stress does not cause OCD, but a stressful event (like the death of a loved stressful event (like the death of a loved one, birth of a child, or divorce) can one, birth of a child, or divorce) can actually trigger the onset of the disorder actually trigger the onset of the disorder or exacerbate it. or exacerbate it.

11. Is OCD acquired or are 11. Is OCD acquired or are people born with it? people born with it?

Persons are generally considered to Persons are generally considered to have been born with a predisposition for have been born with a predisposition for OCD. This predisposition however does OCD. This predisposition however does not always manifest itself. Sometimes the not always manifest itself. Sometimes the OCD is triggered by a traumatic or OCD is triggered by a traumatic or stressful event, even an illness (strep stressful event, even an illness (strep throat), but one must first have the throat), but one must first have the predisposition toward OCD to develop predisposition toward OCD to develop the disorder. the disorder.

12. True or False: OCD is a 12. True or False: OCD is a curable disorder. curable disorder.

False. However, symptoms are usually False. However, symptoms are usually controllable. controllable.

13. What is the prognosis for 13. What is the prognosis for OCD with treatment? OCD with treatment?

Very good. Up to 80% of OCD sufferers Very good. Up to 80% of OCD sufferers improve significantly with proper improve significantly with proper treatment of behavioral therapy and treatment of behavioral therapy and medication. Slips and relapses of thinking medication. Slips and relapses of thinking or behavior may occur but if the person is or behavior may occur but if the person is determined, these slips can usually be determined, these slips can usually be caught and treated before blossoming caught and treated before blossoming into a full blown OCD episode. into a full blown OCD episode.

14. What are some of the 14. What are some of the treatment methods for OCD?treatment methods for OCD?

The two most effective treatments for The two most effective treatments for OCD are drug therapy and behavior and behavior therapy. Generally, therapy. Generally, behavior therapy is is most effective, or the two can be used most effective, or the two can be used together. Exposure and response together. Exposure and response prevention is the most effective type of prevention is the most effective type of behavior therapy for OCD.behavior therapy for OCD.

Sources:Sources:

The OC & Spectrum Disorders Assn., Susan The OC & Spectrum Disorders Assn., Susan F., The OC Foundation, The Nat'l Institute of F., The OC Foundation, The Nat'l Institute of Mental Health, Solvay Pharmaceutical's Mental Health, Solvay Pharmaceutical's Community Eduction Publications, Chris Community Eduction Publications, Chris Vertullo's OCD-L mailing list, and the Prodigy Vertullo's OCD-L mailing list, and the Prodigy medical support board. medical support board. Expert Consultants:Expert Consultants: S S Saxena, MD and K Maidment, PhD. Saxena, MD and K Maidment, PhD. <http://www.brainphysics.com/ocdfaq.php#wha<http://www.brainphysics.com/ocdfaq.php#whatis>tis>