Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health disorder characterized by obsessive, intrusive thoughts that cause anxiety (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing that anxiety (compulsions). OCD exists on a spectrum from mild to severe. Full blown OCD refers to severe, debilitating OCD that significantly interferes with daily functioning.
What are the symptoms of full blown OCD?
Full blown OCD involves severe, time-consuming obsessions and compulsions that dominate a person’s life. Common symptoms include:
- Spending over 1 hour per day on obsessions/compulsions
- Inability to control thoughts or behaviors, despite negative consequences
- Significant distress, anxiety, and impairment in daily functioning
- Avoidance of situations, places, objects that trigger obsessions/compulsions
- Repetitive rituals like excessive hand washing, checking, ordering, tapping, counting
- Severe contamination fears involving bodily fluids, germs, chemicals, dirt
- Excessive double checking of locks, stoves, electronics, paperwork
- Intrusive sexual/violent/religious thoughts and images
- Excessive concern with symmetry, order, rules, lists, organization
With full blown OCD, these obsessions and compulsions become extremely difficult to resist or control and dominate the person’s life to the point of dysfunction. Daily activities, work, relationships and overall functioning are significantly impaired.
What causes full blown OCD?
The exact causes of OCD are unknown but likely involve a combination of genetic, neurological, behavioral, cognitive, and environmental factors. Contributing factors to developing severe, full blown OCD may include:
- Family history of OCD or related disorders
- Abnormalities in brain structure and function
- Stressful or traumatic life events
- Irrational thought patterns, cognitive distortions
- Early childhood experiences
- Faulty self-esteem regulation
- Learned behavioral patterns
OCD symptoms often develop slowly over time and progressively worsen when left untreated. The earlier OCD is addressed, the less likely it is to reach a severe, full blown state.
What are the different types of full blown OCD?
While OCD has common symptoms, obsessions and compulsions can focus on different themes. Full blown OCD may manifest in various ways:
Contamination OCD
- Obsessed with germs/illnesses
- Excessive washing and cleaning rituals
- Avoidance of spaces seen as contaminated
- May wear gloves, masks frequently
Harm OCD
- Obsessed with thoughts of harming self/others
- Avoidance of sharp objects or situations
- Excessive checking nothing dangerous was done
Religious/sexual/violent OCD
- Obsessed with taboo thoughts about sex, violence, blasphemy
- Compulsions to suppress or neutralize thoughts
- Avoidance of triggers like media or places of worship
Perfectionism/certainty OCD
- Obsessed with order, symmetry, exactness
- Excessive double checking and repeating rituals
- May redo tasks done “wrong”
Hoarding behaviors are also common with severe OCD. Full blown OCD may also involve multiple obsession themes.
How is full blown OCD diagnosed?
Full blown OCD is diagnosed through:
- Discussion of symptoms, thoughts, behaviors
- Clinical interview with a mental health professional
- Assessment using the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale
- Ruling out other possible conditions
The Yale-Brown scale assesses OCD severity based on time spent, interference, distress, resistance and control around obsessions and compulsions. Scores above a certain threshold indicate full blown clinically significant OCD requiring treatment.
How is full blown OCD treated?
Full blown OCD requires comprehensive treatment to alleviate severe symptoms:
Psychotherapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is considered the gold standard therapy for OCD. This involves gradually exposing oneself to feared triggers in a controlled way to become desensitized, while refraining from the compulsive response behaviors.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on accepting intrusive thoughts and committing to values-based action.
Medication
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil
- Other antidepressant or anti-anxiety medications may be used as an adjunct treatment or if SSRIs are ineffective.
Residential Treatment Programs
- Inpatient or intensive outpatient OCD treatment programs providing multidisciplinary treatment, for extreme, resistant cases.
What is the prognosis for full blown OCD?
With proper treatment, the prognosis for full blown OCD is generally positive, though complete remission of symptoms is uncommon. Symptoms can take time to improve and may wax and wane throughout life. Consistent adherence with treatment is key to managing OCD long-term. Without effective treatment, full blown OCD tends to persist and cause continual life disruption.
Conclusion
Full blown OCD refers to severe OCD causing substantial impairment in daily functioning. It involves extreme, uncontrollable obsessions and compulsions that dominate a person’s life. Though challenging, full blown OCD can be treated through medications, CBT and other therapies. With proper, ongoing treatment, quality of life can be greatly improved.