Private Clinic for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders (OCD)

Obsessive-compulsive disorders manifest as unwanted thoughts or compulsive actions that occur on most days for at least a two-week period. Those affected are aware that their thoughts and behaviors are exaggerated. Nevertheless, they feel compelled to perform these actions, as otherwise they experience unpleasant feelings such as anxiety, discomfort, or disgust.
OCD can occur in conjunction with other mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety disorders.

Obsessions are ideas, images, or impulses that repeatedly occupy the affected person’s mind. They are experienced as unpleasant and distressing.
Typical themes include:

• Fear of infection, poisoning, or contamination
• Striving for symmetry and order
• Doubts and uncertainty about one’s own thoughts
• Aggressive thoughts toward others, accompanied by fear that these thoughts might become reality

Compulsions are actions performed due to an inner urge, even though the person knows they are senseless or exaggerated. They are always performed in the same way, sometimes repeatedly.
Typical compulsions include:

• Excessive washing
• Cleaning rituals
• Checking behaviors
• Ordering and arranging
• Touching compulsions
• Counting
• Repetitive recitation of prayers, phrases, or words

Compulsions and obsessions usually occur together.

There is no single direct cause of obsessive-compulsive disorder; rather, it results from a combination of psychological, environmental, and biological factors.

• Genetic Factors: OCD can occur in multiple family members.
• Psychological Factors: Upbringing and personal experiences influence the development of OCD. For example, the loss of a close person can contribute to the onset of OCD. Psychological stressors, such as stress or anxiety, can also promote its occurrence.
• Neurobiological Factors: A disrupted balance of neurotransmitters (serotonin and dopamine) in the brain can also lead to the development of OCD.