Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Blogs This is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader or to display this data on your own website or blog.

Distorted Physical Sensations in OCD
This study suggests that the intensity of these sensations might play a significant role in how those with OCD manage their symptoms. Other interesting findings from the study include the fact that the strong sensory components to obsessions appeared more often in people with all-around vivid imaginations, and that a large group of those with OCD experienced their intrusive thoughts as auditory — whispered, spoken or shouted voices. Below are the key findings of the study, as summarized by the authors: Obsessive thoughts are often accompanied by perceptual experiences, such as feeling dirt on one’s skin o...
Source: World of Psychology - January 23, 2018 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Janet Singer Tags: Memory and Perception OCD Research Bodily Sensations Contamination Hallucinations Intrusive Thoughts Obsessive Compulsive Disorder perceptual distortions sensory perception symptom management Source Type: blogs

Can Simulating Hallucinations Help Us Learn about Psychosis?
Psychosis, when people lose touch with reality, is not a rare occurrence — as many as three in 100 people will experience it at some point during their lives. Psychosis typically includes hallucinations, which consist of seeing, hearing or feeling things that are not actually there. A common example is hearing voices. It can also include delusions, which are beliefs that are not likely to be true and that seem irrational or nonsensical to other people. A typical example involves believing that outside forces are controlling your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. An interesting study from England published in the Dec...
Source: World of Psychology - January 17, 2018 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Janet Singer Tags: Psychology Research Schizophrenia Artificial Intelligence Hallucinations Psychosis simulation Source Type: blogs

The Power of Vulnerability
Welcome to my confessional! (Yes, my confessional is an international website where thousands of people read and–perhaps–groan at my pithy columns). As I write my latest screed, I often wonder, Am I being too vulnerable? From discussing my frayed family (insert a wry Happy Holidays) to my smoldering anxiety, I divulge my biggest, baddest secrets to, well, everyone. Despite my well-worn hesitation, the answer is a resounding no. In fact, maybe I should be a little more vulnerable. Sure, there is an understandable tinge of embarrassment and anxiety when sharing my personal failings. There is a nagging sens...
Source: World of Psychology - December 30, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Matthew Loeb Tags: Habits Happiness Personal Vulnerability Source Type: blogs

You ’ ve Beaten OCD – Now What?
For many people, the journey through obsessive-compulsive disorder and back to good health is a long one. Getting the correct diagnosis, or even just recognizing you have OCD, often takes years. Then comes the search for appropriate treatment, followed by a long-term commitment to therapy and hard work. We know recovery is possible, but it is rarely a “quick fix.” I try to imagine what it must feel like, after being controlled by OCD for so long, to finally have your life back? Relief. Gratitude. Excitement! Yes, but for many, also add trepidation and confusion, with a helping of uncertainty. What do I do NOW? For many...
Source: World of Psychology - December 24, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Janet Singer Tags: OCD Personal Self-Help Treatment anxiety Compulsions Obsessions Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Rituals socio-occupational recovery Source Type: blogs

Bioelectronics for Neurological Diseases: Interview with Will Rosellini, CEO of Nexeon
Nexeon Medsytems is a medical device company focused on providing innovative neurostimulation products for patients suffering from debilitating neurological diseases, including Parkinson’s and essential tremor. It was founded in 2005 with the goal of changing how innovative ideas in the medical device industry move from concept to reality, with a focus on creating solutions for clinicians in their pursuit of improving patient outcomes. Medgadget had the opportunity to ask Will Rosellini, CEO of Nexeon, some questions about Nexeon, and their plans for the future. Conn Hastings, Medgadget: Can you tell us a little abo...
Source: Medgadget - December 22, 2017 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Conn Hastings Tags: Exclusive Neurology Neurosurgery Source Type: blogs

Having a vivid imagination seems to make things worse for people with OCD
By Emma Young At the heart of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are the intrusive, often distressing, thoughts. My skin is dirty… I must have left the gas on and my house will burn down… But why do some obsessive thoughts compel the person to act on them, while others don’t? And how are some people with OCD able to control the compulsion to act – to repeatedly wash their hands, or to go home to check appliances, for example – while others can’t? As the authors of a new study on OCD, published in Clinical Psychological Psychotherapy, point out: “A single negative intrusive thought may result in an avalanche ...
Source: BPS RESEARCH DIGEST - December 20, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: BPS Research Digest Tags: Mental health Thought Source Type: blogs

Does Pregnancy Alter the Brain ’ s Immune Function?
Recent research published in the November 2017 issue of Brain, Behavior, and Immunity suggests that a woman’s immune response in the brain may decrease during pregnancy and the postpartum period. These findings, discussed by the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, might help to establish a connection between the brain’s immune function and the anxiety and mood disorders that are common throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period. Previous research has shown that during pregnancy, the response of the body’s peripheral immune system (the part of our protective system that does not protect the brain) is suppress...
Source: World of Psychology - December 19, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Janet Singer Tags: Brain and Behavior General Grief and Loss Health-related Mental Health and Wellness Research Women's Issues Bipolar Depression fetal development immune changes Immune Function Immunity immunosuppression Mania miscarriage Moth Source Type: blogs

The Cost of OCD — And Yes, I ’ m Talking about Money
If you or a loved one has obsessive-compulsive disorder, then you know how devastating it can be when left untreated. It takes a huge toll not only on the person with OCD, but also on all those who care about him or her. In addition to wasted time and energy, relationships have been destroyed, families have fallen apart, careers have been ruined, and people’s lives have been shattered. When we talk about the high cost of living with obsessive-compulsive disorder, the above scenarios are usually what we are referring to. But what about the actual cost in dollars (or pounds, or whatever currency you use)? Is it expen...
Source: World of Psychology - December 14, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Janet Singer Tags: Mental Health and Wellness Money and Financial OCD Personal Treatment Exposure and Response Prevention Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Perfectionism spending Source Type: blogs

OCD and Virtual Reality
Exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy is the evidence-based psychological treatment of choice for obsessive-compulsive disorder. Basically, the person with OCD is exposed to his or her obsessions, encouraged to feel the anxiety, and asked to refrain from engaging in rituals (compulsions) to reduce the fear. I hear from many people with OCD who say that while they understand what ERP therapy is, and even how it could be helpful to many people, they don’t think it would work for their type of OCD, and therefore they don’t pursue treatment. This is indeed unfortunate as ERP can truly benefit all those who deal wi...
Source: World of Psychology - December 2, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Janet Singer Tags: OCD Psychology Research Treatment Compulsions ERP Exposure and Response Prevention Obsessions Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Therapy virtual reality Source Type: blogs

Why Too Much Self-Control Can Be a Bad Thing
Self-control refers to our ability to restrain acting on momentary urges, impulses, and wants in favor of longer term goals. Who doesn’t want more of that? Most of us think that it’s important to have a lot of willpower, to be able to resist temptation. We all hope that we’ll be able to avoid giving into that impulse to eat more ice cream, keep ourselves from expressing anger at a loved one, or make ourselves finish an important project even though we don’t feel like it. And generally, self-control is a good thing. Society needs people with high levels of self-control, those who can inhibit their momentary desire...
Source: World of Psychology - December 2, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Jason Luoma, Ph.D. Tags: Anorexia Anxiety and Panic Depression Eating Disorders Habits Happiness Personality Psychology Psychotherapy Relationships Stress Treatment Dbt Impulsive Behavior Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy Reactivity Self Source Type: blogs

Scrupulosity OCD and the Sin of Certainty
When religious and faithful individuals are told that the unremitting thoughts that they are trying to get rid of are due to their OCD, they have difficulty accepting it. They may remember how and where their symptoms began, and may attribute their sinful thoughts to Satan or being cursed somehow somewhere. They may eventually acknowledge the symptoms as OCD but continue to doubt their worthiness. As they question their thoughts and actions, uncertainty persists. They believe they may find surety if they make a more exerted effort. For example, they may say, “If I pray longer, the intrusive thoughts will stop. Perhaps I...
Source: World of Psychology - November 29, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Annabella Hagen, LCSW, RPT-S Tags: Anxiety and Panic OCD Spirituality Compulsions Coping Skills Guilt impure thoughts Intrusive Thoughts Obsessions Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Perfectionism Scrupulosity OCD Uncertainty Worry Source Type: blogs

OCD and Seasonal Affective Disorder
This article on SAD describes it as follows: Seasonal affective disorder is characterized by feelings of sadness and depression that occur in the fall or winter months when the temperatures begin to drop and the days grow shorter. The depressive episode is often associated with excessive eating, sleeping, and weight gain. Depressive symptoms begin in the fall or winter and persist until the spring. Women are twice to three times more likely to suffer from the winter blues than men. Seasonal affective disorder can also impact people during the summer months (“the summer blues”), too, but it is less common. People suffer...
Source: World of Psychology - November 23, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Janet Singer Tags: Depression OCD Research Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Sad Seasonal Affective Disorder Source Type: blogs

Four Genes Linked to OCD
Last month (October 2017), a team of researchers from Broad Institute published a study in Nature Communication which truly delves into the biology of obsessive-compulsive disorder. They used a multispecies comparison between dogs, mice, and humans who suffer from compulsive behavior disorders, and by doing this, were able to identify new genes and biological pathways associated with OCD. The genes in question are involved in synapse maintenance and neurotransmitter signaling, suggesting potential mechanisms at work in the disorder. Hyun Ji Noh, a postdoctoral associate who led the study, says: “We were seeking wa...
Source: World of Psychology - November 10, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Janet Singer Tags: OCD Research Treatment Exposure and Response Prevention Genetic Research Genetics Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Source Type: blogs

What Are the Signs of Binge Eating Disorder?
Binge eating is often something we have done at one time or another. Perhaps at a celebration or a birthday, we have continued to eat just for the taste or because it feels good. Binge Eating Disorder is different. The signs of Binge Eating Disorder include: Feeling uncomfortably full while continuing to eat Eating a lot of food quickly despite lack of hunger Feeling out of control Shame surrounding food If you eat more than others during the same situation or meal time and have binged at least once a week for three months, you may have Binge Eating Disorder. Binge Eating Disorder is the most common eating disorder in th...
Source: World of Psychology - November 7, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Rebecca Lee Tags: Addiction Binge Eating Eating Disorders Health-related Bingeing Food Addiction Obesity overeating Source Type: blogs

New study suggests people with OCD are especially sensitive to the seasons
By Christian Jarrett The clocks have gone back and there’s a chill in the air. It’s well known that during these darker months, a significant minority of us experience unwelcome negative changes to our mood (at least if you believe in the notion of Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD, which not all experts do). Now an intriguing study in Psychiatry Research has explored the link this condition may have with another psychiatric diagnosis, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The results suggest that people with OCD are more likely than average to experience seasonal effects on their mood, and that for these seas...
Source: BPS RESEARCH DIGEST - November 3, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: BPS Research Digest Tags: Mental health Source Type: blogs