"Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental disorder where a person has uncontrollable, reoccurring thoughts (obsession) and behaviours (compulsions) that he or she feels the urge to repeat over and over. This can negatively interferes with aspects of normal life such as relationship and work."​

obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)

Obsessive compulsive disorder, also called as OCD is a mental disorder where a person has uncontrollable, reoccurring thoughts (obsessions) and behaviours (compulsions) that he or she feels the urge to repeat over and over. This can negatively interfere with aspects of normal life such as relationship and work.

Obsessive compulsive disorder affects about 2.3% of people at some point in their life. In Singapore, according to a population based study of mental disorder1, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder affects about 3% of the population.

Symptoms of OCD

People with OCD may have obsession or compulsion or both. The symptoms include: 

  • certain thoughts and / or feel the need to check things, perform certain routines (called “rituals”) repeatedly.
  • inability to control their actions to such a degree that his or her daily life is negatively affected.

Some of the common repetitive behaviours include:

  • excessive hand washing
  • counting of things, arranging things in a certain order
  • checking to see if a door is locked
  • difficulty throwing things away

It is unusual for symptoms to begin after the age of thirty-five and half of people develop problems before twenty.

Some individuals with OCD also have a tic disorder, this can be either motor (actions) or vocal. Common motor tics include sudden, brief, repetitive movements, such as eye blinking, shoulder shrugging, and head or shoulder jerking. Common vocal tics include repetitive throat-clearing, sniffing, or grunting sounds.

The diagnosis is based on the symptoms and requires ruling out other drug related or medical causes.

 

ocd Treatment in Singapore

Treatment for OCD involves the use of Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and sometimes with medication. Our treatment involves gradually increasing exposure to what causes the problems while not allowing the repetitive behaviour to occur.

At Psynaptica in Singapore, our psychologists provide psychotherapy for treating obsessive compulsive disorder.

 

Contact us