Do you always check the door to make sure it's locked or the oven to make sure it's turned off? Or constantly wash your hands? You may have a psychological disorder known as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). It was recently discovered that 2.2 million Americans were tested and diagnosed with OCD, a common disorder affecting 1-3% of children and adolescents (Thomsen 5). OCD is known to be hereditary and symptoms can spread and start to worsen at different times (Thomsen 2). So what is OCD? What causes it, what are the treatments and symptoms of this behavior? How can this disorder affect the life of a human being? I will answer all these questions in this article. OCD is an anxiety disorder that describes someone with obsessive thoughts or compulsive behavior or both (Thomsen 1). Anyone suffering from this psychological disorder has repetitive thoughts and behaviors in their head that they cannot stop; all these thoughts can cause a highly anxious disorder. Obsessions can give rise to compulsions that are also repetitive behaviors (“Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Part II” 2). There are different types of obsessions that a person has, but the most common are the fear of contamination, the fear of behaving in a socially unacceptable way, the need for precision, and the fear of making a mistake. The most common compulsions are cleaning, constantly checking things; such as making sure the door is locked, giving orders, and avoiding (“Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Part II” 2). Less than 20% of people have obsessions or compulsions, and at least 80% of people with OCD have both obsessions and compulsions (Bakalar 3). OCD can range from preschool age to adulthood, but usually by age 40. I found that… middle of paper… it is effective for OCD sufferers. Some side effects occur with this drug including; dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, constipation and weight gain. OCD is known to require higher doses than depression, and antidepressants take longer to take effect. Some patients prefer drug treatment rather than behavioral therapy because it is expensive and more demanding. Psychotherapy could be another option as a treatment and is very rare and a last resort for some patients (Bakalar 2-3). Works Cited Bakalar, J. (2005). Obsessive-compulsive disorder: Part II. Harvard Mental Health Letter, 22(5), 1-4.Thomsen, P. (2012). Obsessive-compulsive disorders. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 22, 1-5. doi: 10.1007/s00787-012-0357-7(1998). Obsessive-compulsive disorder: Part II. Harvard Mental Health Letter, 15(5), 1-7.