OCD and it’s prevalence among families

When people started exhibiting signs of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in the 14^th century anyone who had sacrilegious, sexual, or any inappropriate thoughts were believed to be possessed by the devil. Exorcism was often practiced to rid the person from the devil. Centuries later, French clinician Esquirol, attributed OCD to self doubt and uncertainty. Other French scholars linked the disease to inhibition and mental exhaustion (“Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Causes” 1). As years passed the presumptions surrounding OCD have changed based on intellectual and scientific knowledge. Therefore, the study of OCD has evolved over centuries and how someone acquires the mental disease has fluctuated. (“What Causes Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder” 1).

In the midst of the 20^th century psychoanalytic theories explaining OCD began to rise (“What Causes Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder” 1). Sigmund Freud believed that OCD was linked to a conflict of the unconscious, which became evident through obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors (“Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Causes” 1). The obsessions that an OCD patient experiences is believed to represent a need for control that they are consciously unaware of, but is reflected through their present behavior. In the progression of the 20^th century psychoanalytic theories showed less credibility; although this theory may seem practical there is no evidence that proves this. Psychoanalysis allows researchers to understand why someone may have the obsessions they have, but does little to explain its original development (“What Causes Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder” 1).

Last month my mother was able to solve the mystery of where my brother, Jason and sister, Julie, acquired the genes that diagnosed them with OCD. My bomma, which means grandmother in Belgium, recently moved into an assisted living nursing home because she has Alzheimer’s disease and is unable to take care of herself. My mom has begun cleaning out bomma’s house to get it ready to sell and was quite shocked at what she found. Tucked behind every couch, closet, chair, and desk bomma had piles of lottery tickets stacked and bound; five garbage bags were not enough to get rid of all the tickets. Bomma wrapped up the lottery tickets with such precision. Each stack of twenty was tied with a single white thread like a gift waiting to be unwrapped. She was also unable to throw anything away. This becomes quite obvious when she couldn’t even throw out pay stubs from my deceased grandfather in the 1950’s, magazine offers, old Niagara Mohawk bills, and unused bank envelopes. Although bomma had so much useless paperwork it was interesting to hear and see how she tried to preserve everything. The pay stubs, magazine offers, old Niagara Mohawk bills, and unused bank envelopes were each wrapped up with other sheets of paper surrounding them, placed in envelopes, stacked on top of one another, and then enclosed with several rubber bands; a process that makes no sense to you and me, but is logical to her. The present state of bomma’s house made my mom realize that Jason and Julie acquired OCD from bomma, even though there is limited psychological evidence that supports this claim.

OCD is a psychological illness that causes people to have unwanted obsessions (thoughts) and to have compulsions (behaviors) that is repeated to try to end thoughts. Obsessions are images or thoughts that continuously run through a person’s head, while compulsions are the behaviors one performs to get rid of the obsession. About 3% of the U.S. has OCD and it affects both genders equally. It is not uncommon to have OCD and phobias, anxiety disorders, or panic attacks. In most cases OCD makes one feel nervous and afraid, so compulsions help to cushion them. Obsessions vary among individuals, but some of the most common are fear of germs, fear of thinking evil thoughts, fear of harming a family member of friend, and concern with order. OCD patients will try to get rid of their obsessions by performing a variety of compulsions such as: cleaning or grooming, checking doors, appliances, and drawers to make sure they are locked or closed, or organizing items in a certain way (“Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder” 1).

Jason was diagnosed with OCD when he was an early teen. When he was first diagnosed I was unaware of it because he is twelve years older than me. However, growing up I quickly became attentive to it. He is afraid of contamination; there would be times when I would watch him inspect drinking glasses and watch him put them in the sink because they had water stains. Jason would take each glass turn it in every direction up side down, and sideways to make sure the glass he was drinking out of was immaculate. He overcame his fear of contamination on a drinking glass, but his fear is still here. About a year ago Jason’s wife gave birth to their second child, Caden. After Caden’s birth, Jason became terrified of being contaminated by Caden and their other children Paige (his step daughter) and Mackenzie. He wouldn’t play with them, hold them, bathe them, or change their diapers. Anything that his children touched or was around he would not go near. Very often, when the kids would come near him he would yell “Get them away from me! Get them away from me!” He was so petrified to be contaminated that he refused to put his clothes in the same hamper as theirs and he would use the bathroom as little as possible. Since then, Jason has taken the necessary steps to overcome his fear of contamination. He sees a psychologist, takes medication, and uses behavior management techniques. He now is able to hold his kids and play with them, but it is difficult for him to bathe them or change their diapers. Having OCD is a daily battle that one’s fears are constantly manipulated by their brain.

In 2002, there was a study conducted by Dr. Hong and colleagues at Johns Hopkins University and the Bloomberg School of Medicine. Dr. Hong and his colleagues were studying patients with a combination of OCD and/or depression because they believe that there is a genetic connection to chromosome 9 and OCD. To complete this study, Dr. Hong used 179 people from 50 families and had DNA samples taken; 105 participants had OCD. Dr. Hong was able to find evidence of an OCD gene; he was able to discern that ordering compulsions, grooming behaviors, and diagnosis of other anxiety disorders was much more prevalent in families that had a history of OCD in first and second degree relatives (“Obsession-Complusive Disorder at Johns Hopkins” 1). This study proves that OCD is prevalent in families and it is not a type of disease that you simply catch like the common cold.

A study performed at Johns Hopkins roughly eight years ago proves that OCD is genetic. This study proves first degree relatives (brother, sister, and parents) who have OCD are five times more likely of acquiring the disease at some point in their lives. To complete this study, researchers used 80 people with OCD and 343 of their first degree relatives. The OCD patients and their first degree relatives were evaluated against 73 people with no mental illness and 300 of their first degree relatives; a total of 796 participants from the control and experimental group. Twin studies have even shown that identical twins have a much higher frequency of getting OCD than fraternal twins. Now that researchers have confirmed that OCD is genetic; they can begin searching for the gene that affects this. (“Study Show Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Runs in families”, 1). Having research that supports the claim that OCD is hereditary is enlightening, but frightening. Families will now be aware of the mental illness and they will be able to learn the signs and symptoms of OCD and its related illnesses. When Jason first started showing signs of OCD, my parents had no idea what was going on; they were worried about him and his peculiar behavior. When Julie was diagnosed with it my parents already knew what the illness was and the measures that needed to be done to help overcome her obsessions. After reading into this research there is no doubt that OCD stems from a genetic basis.

My older sister, Julie, was diagnosed with an eating disorder and OCD her freshman year of college. Julie’s obsession with being perfect and having complete control of her life forced her into binge eating, purging, and over exercising. My family found out about Julie’s problem after she had written emails to a close family friend describing her acquired habits. Julie and her friends would do kick boxing together every night of the week in a spare dorm space, but Julie would do an extra work out after her friends left. She also binged and purged. Once my parents were aware of Julie’s problem they confronted her and took her to the same psychiatrist that Jason saw in his teens. The psychiatrist made Julie keep a food diary and made it clear to not allow her to go to the bathroom alone.

Although there is scientific research that supports the theory that OCD is hereditary some may disagree that OCD is not genetic, but an acquired disease through observation. For example, many may argue that if a child watches his/her parent repeatedly wash their hands and agonize about it, then the child potentially could be affected. However, researchers have found that one’s obsessions and compulsions may be different (“Study Show Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Runs in families”, 1). Jason’s obsession was germs and hurting his children, so he refused to play with them, or even hold them. Julie’s obsession was being perfect in every aspect of her life and having control, so she used binging and purging as her control.

Many websites that I have visited to find information about OCD have stated that OCD is hereditary; few of these websites discuss the current research being done to find more answers about this mentally disabling disease. Since so many people are affected by OCD either if they have it or if they are related to someone who has it, new information needs to be disbursed. Through education people will learn more about OCD, its affects, and how it’s treated. It also is important for research to be circulated among the public; especially for families like mine. For years my parents wondered where and how Jason and Julie acquired OCD from; just recently they found the answer. As a young woman this is particularly important for me because if I have children I will need to be aware that they could obtain the OCD gene. OCD is like any other disabling disease that is genetic. It is important to have the most accurate family health history, so all members will not be surprised, but ready to handle any medical problem.

Works Cited

Familydoctor.org. “Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: What It Is and How to Treat It.” American Academy of Family Physicians November 2006. 2 April 2008 <http://familydoctor.org >.

Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. “Study Shows Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Runs In Families.” ScienceDaily 26 April 2000. 31 March 2008 <http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2000/04/000426080211.htm>.

Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. “What is OCD?” Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences 2003. 2 April 2008 <http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org>.

K12 Academics. “Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Causes.” Wisconsin Family Ties Inc. 9 April 2008 <http://www.k12academics.com/index.html>.

Northern County Psychiatric Associates. “Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.” 1 January 2005. 2 April 2008 from <http://www.ncpamd.com/obsessive.htm>.

Psych Central. “What Causes Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.” 10 December 2006. 11 April 2008 from < http://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/what-causes-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/>.