Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Blog

Examples include public toilets (unlikely to pass disease through intact skin), doorknobs (best to wash one's hands) and microwave ovens (most should be safe). Interestingly, dirt may have some health benefits. Studies have shown that children who grow up with pets, or who attend daycare, may end up with stronger immune systems down the road!

Dr. Grayson used techniques like "exposure and response prevention" to help lessen his participants' symptoms. Examples included group hugs and touching toilet seats (and then licking one's fingers!), without compensatory washing.

Dr. Oz noted that OCD is quite the opposite of Oprah's recommended "living in the moment." He described recovery from OCD as embracing one's life and one's fears.

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Several studies have examined this question, and psychotherapy has been shown to be helpful. Some studies have shown that psychotherapy can actually change the neurobiology of one's brain. Other studies have shown how cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), in particular, can give additional benefit to people who are already taking medication for OCD.

Please see my new articles on the basics of psychotherapy and the effectiveness of psychotherapy for more in-depth information.

Comedian, actor and writer Steve Martin published a novel entitled "The Pleasure of My Company". The book, published in 2003, depicts the life Daniel, who has debilitating OCD.

While not as well-known as Martin's earlier work "Shopgirl," "The Pleasure of My Company" is sad, humorous and worth a read.

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Celebrities can have mental health issues, just like anyone else. Many celebrities have been candid about their battles with depression, substance abuse and even OCD. Did you know that radio personality Howard Stern, comedian Howie Mandel, actress Roseanne Barr and TV host Marc Summers have all struggled with OCD?

Read a more complete list of celebrities and their reported psychiatric diagnoses, compiled by Eddy M. Elmer.

OCD is generally treated with medication and therapy. Unfortunately, about 20% of people with OCD do not respond to normal treatment. Luckily, researchers are investigating new types of treatment for these severe cases.

Deep brain stimulation involves surgically implanting two electrical stimulators in the brain, which are connected to a pacemaker-like device that turns them on and off. 25-50% of the patients who have undergone this procedure at Brown University have experienced improvement from it.

Gamma knife capsulotomy is another surgical procedure in which specific areas of the brain are cut with special device called a "gamma knife." 60% of the patients who have received this procedure at Brown have experienced improvement.

Both procedures are still being investigated, but the initial results certainly seem encouraging.

_{Source: Johns Hopkins Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences website.}

Staying politically informed and exercising your right to vote are so important, especially during this election year. To help familiarize you with the presidential candidates' positions on mental healthcare, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) posted information on their website.

NAMI sent a questionnaire to all of the presidential candidates, the results of which are posted online. Learn what Senators Clinton, McCain and Obama have to say on this essential topic.

I wrote about the TV series "Monk" in an earlier blog. This addictive program stars the Emmy Award-winning actor Tony Shalhoub, who portrays an obsessive-compulsive detective.

In an effort to widen the show's audience, the network powers-that-be have decided to air "Monk" Sunday nights on NBC. New shows will continue to be aired on USA. For those of you without cable, now is your chance to get acquainted with "Monk."

Children with OCD are much more likely to be bullied, says a report from the University of Florida. While only 9% of "healthy" children reported serious problems with bullying, 25% of children with OCD did, making bullying nearly three times as common for them.

People with OCD, including children with OCD, often have more difficulties with interpersonal relationships. Unusual behaviors and rituals can make these children easy targets for bullies. In addition, the stress of being bullied can actually worsen OCD symptoms and depression. Parents, teachers and healthcare providers should be aware of these potential hazards.

_{Source: "Kids with OCD bullied more than others, study shows," University of Florida News website, August 14, 2006.}

In addition to the one here, there are a number of other OCD blogs on the internet. A number of them are written by people suffering from OCD and do a great job of describing the disorder on a personal level.

Examples include The OCD Blog, Living With OCD, and OCD and More. Of course, feel free to tell people your own story on this site's forum too!

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