OCD Symptoms and Diagnosis The Basics of OCD The Basics of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Explained By Owen Kelly, PhD Owen Kelly, PhD, is a clinical psychologist, professor, and author in Ontario, ON, who specializes in anxiety and mood disorders. Learn about our editorial process Owen Kelly, PhD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on August 05, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on April 15, 2019 Print mother image / Getty Images You've probably heard people jokingly proclaim themselves "OCD" as they straighten an askew picture on the wall or wipe their shopping cart handle down with antibacterial wipes, but are they just perfectionists or do they really have OCD? How common is obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)? What factors lead to a diagnosis? What Is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder? Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by two core symptoms—obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are thoughts, images, or ideas that won't go away, are unwanted, and cause extreme distress. For example, you might worry constantly about becoming contaminated with a deadly disease; that you will do something terrible, like scream out an obscenity at a funeral; or that something horrible will happen to a loved one. Other common obsessions include repeated doubts, such as believing you may hit someone with your car; a need for order; aggressive or disturbing ideas such as thoughts of murdering your partner or child; and disturbing sexual and religious imagery. Compulsions are behaviors that you feel you must carry out over and over. For instance, if you're obsessed with contamination, you might wash your hands over and over again. Other common compulsions include cleaning, counting, checking, requesting or demanding reassurance, and ensuring order and symmetry. Diagnosis of OCD OCD cannot be diagnosed using a blood test, though a blood test may be used to rule out physical problems that could be causing symptoms.OCD is ultimately diagnosed based on the frequency, severity, and nature of symptoms using the clinical judgment of qualified mental health professionals. Obsessions and compulsions are usually continual and long-lasting and may negatively affect relationships, work, school, and other areas of life. People with OCD may spend an hour or more a day either thinking about their obsession or engaging in behaviors that temporarily relieve the anxiety caused by their obsession, (i.e., scrubbing their hands until they're raw because they feel dirty). However, it is possible to have only the obsessions or only the compulsions and still be diagnosed with OCD. The key component of a diagnosis is that the OCD is interfering with your quality of life. Causes of OCD OCD affects about 1.2% of adults and is sometimes diagnosed in childhood. There is no difference in the rate of OCD among men and women. People of all cultures and ethnicity are affected. No one knows exactly what causes obsessive-compulsive disorder, though there is evidence of a genetic component. If a parent, sibling, or child is diagnosed with OCD, there is a higher risk of developing the disorder, especially if the relative was diagnosed as a child or teenager. There is also evidence that certain parts of the brain simply do not function correctly. Research on genetics and brain abnormalities is ongoing. Treatment of OCD OCD is not curable, but it responds to treatment with medication, particularly a class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), as well as psychotherapy. Exposure therapy may be particularly helpful to people whose OCD significantly impacts their quality of life. Many people with OCD find that they get the best result by combining medical and psychological treatment. The 9 Best Online Therapy Programs We've tried, tested and written unbiased reviews of the best online therapy programs including Talkspace, Betterhelp, and Regain. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. National Alliance on Mental Illness. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder National Institute of Mental Health. OCD Overview SAMHSA. Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders