Professor David Veale speaks to Zoella on OCD

Professor David Veale speaks to Zoella on OCD and how to treat the condition

Professor David Veale, a consultant psychiatrist and specialist in cognitive behavioural therapies at Nightingale Hospital, spoke to Zoella recently in a new article on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

The article, “It feels like your mind is betraying you” – The Reality of Living With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), explores the reality of living with the condition, as told by sufferers.

“Living with OCD goes far beyond perfectionism, cleanliness and next-level organisation skills, and to suggest ‘being a bit OCD’ is a personality quirk is undermining the severity of the disorder,” begins the piece.

Professor David Veale, also one of the founders of the charity OCD Action, shares the most effective treatment response to OCD.

“The first treatment for OCD is cognitive behavioural therapy that includes exposure. This means having a good understanding of how your current solutions are maintaining your distress. You then go on to face your fears, to tolerate your anxiety and to test out your expectations. For example, if you have unacceptable thoughts about harming children, it means being with children without any checking that you have not harmed a child or trying to undo a harm that you think you might have done. It also means helping you to reclaim your life.

“As your OCD improves, it’s important to ‘fill the void’ left, deepening your connection with others, and engaging in the work, education and interests that are important to you. Sometimes medication in the form of an SSRI may be helpful in more severe forms of OCD.”

You can read the full article on the Zoella website.

What is obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder, known widely as OCD, is a mental health disorder, in which someone has repeated unwanted thoughts, feelings or behaviour. It can be characterised by repeated intrusive thoughts or sensations (obsessions) and rituals (compulsions)aimed at reducing the distress they feel. Some sufferers of the disorder can experience both obsessions and compulsions.

Although most people have habits or repetitive thoughts sometimes, OCD is a serious disorder that can be incredibly distressing and debilitating. OCD may cause individuals to feel frequently tense, anxious, fearful, guilty, disgusted or depressed.

Often, they understand that their thoughts, feelings and actions do not make sense; however, find they cannot stop. Sufferers usually feel better if they carry out their compulsive behaviour or ritual.

OCD can affect people of all ages and genders. Symptoms can start to show in childhood or teenage years but usually develops in adulthood.

Signs and symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Most people with OCD will suffer from obsessive and/or compulsive thoughts.

Obsessions

Obsessions are unwanted, unpleasant and repeated thoughts, images, doubts or ruminations in your mind. You try not to think about them, but they won’t go away. They may wonder for hours whether you might have caused an accident or misfortune to someone, endlessly argue with themselves or bothered, in a way that other people are not if things are not in exactly the right order, not balanced or not in the right place.

Compulsions

Compulsions are mental acts or repetitive behaviour. Individuals with OCD experience obsessional thoughts like counting or saying a special word over and over again or avoidance by avoiding touching particular objects, going to certain places taking risks or accepting responsibility. They may have rituals such as washing hands frequently or repeatedly asking others to tell them that everything is alright.

There are a number of mental health problems linked to OCD that involve repetitive thoughts, feelings and urges. Examples of similar conditions include body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), compulsive skin picking (also known as CSP), trichotillomania, perinatal OCD and hoarding.

Causes of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

The main causes of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) according to research, tend to be:

• Genetics
• Depression, anxiety or ‘tics’
• Trauma
• History of physical or sexual abuse as a child

Treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) at Nightingale Hospital

Nightingale Hospital offers a range of treatments for OCD. You may receive support as an outpatient or inpatient.

An inpatient admission will usually be suggested if:

• Your symptoms are very severe, you cannot look after yourself properly or you have thoughts about suicide
• You have other serious mental health problems, such as an eating disorder, schizophrenia, psychosis or a severe depression
• Your OCD prevents you from getting to a clinic for treatment