National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is the National Institute of Mental Health
A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine 
National Institutes of Health
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Also called: OCD
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a type of anxiety disorder. If you have OCD, you have repeated, upsetting thoughts called obsessions. You do the same thing over and over again to try to make the thoughts go away. Those repeated actions are called compulsions.
Examples of obsessions are a fear of germs or a fear of being hurt. Compulsions include washing your hands, counting, checking on things or cleaning. Untreated, OCD can take over your life.
Researchers think brain circuits may not work properly in people who have OCD. It tends to run in families. The symptoms often begin in children or teens. Treatments that combine medicines and therapy are often effective.
NIH: National Institute of Mental Health
-
Start Here
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder(American Academy of Family Physicians)
- Also available in Spanish
-
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: When Unwanted Thoughts Take Over
(National Institute of Mental Health)
- Also available in Spanish
The top row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Basics
,
Learn More
, and
Multimedia & Cool Tools
.
For group Basics
For group Learn More
For group Multimedia & Cool Tools
- No links available
The bottom row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Research
,
Reference Shelf
, and
For You
.
For group Research
For group Reference Shelf
For group For You
-
Overviews
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
-
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)(National Institute of Mental Health)
-
Latest News
- Genetic Studies Give Clues to Tourette Syndrome, OCD(08/14/2012, HealthDay)
-
DNA Links
(08/14/2012, HealthDay)
-
Brain Hubs Boil when Hoarders Face Pitching Their Own Stuff(08/09/2012, National Institute of Mental Health)
- Brain Scans of 'Hoarders' Show Unique Abnormalities(08/06/2012, HealthDay)
-
Diagnosis/Symptoms
- Screening for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)(Anxiety Disorders Association of America)
- Tests for Hoarding(International OCD Foundation)
-
Treatment
- Medicines for the Treatment of Hoarding(International OCD Foundation)
- Medicines for Treating Mental Health Conditions: A Review of the Research for Adults and Caregivers(Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)
-
Mental Health Medications(National Institute of Mental Health)
- OCD Treatment Options(Anxiety Disorders Association of America)
-
Psychotherapies(National Institute of Mental Health)
- Return to top
-
Coping
- Anxiety Disorders Information: Helping Others(Anxiety Disorders Association of America)
- Return to top
-
Specific Conditions
- Hoarding(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
-
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Rituals and Routines(National Institute of Mental Health)
- Return to top
-
Related Issues
- Disorders Related to OCD(International OCD Foundation)
- Hoarding and Housing(International OCD Foundation)
- How to Find the Right Therapist(International OCD Foundation)
- Return to top
-
Clinical Trials
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder(National Institutes of Health)
- Return to top
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
-
Research
-
Adding Psychotherapy to Medication Treatment Improves Outcomes in Pediatric OCD(National Institute of Mental Health)
-
From Paresis to PANDAS and PANS(National Institute of Mental Health)
-
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder(National Institute of Mental Health)
- Return to top
-
Adding Psychotherapy to Medication Treatment Improves Outcomes in Pediatric OCD
-
Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
-
Directories
- Find a Therapist(Anxiety Disorders Association of America)
-
Finding Help for Mental Illnesses(National Institute of Mental Health)
- Mental Health Treatment Program Locator(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
- Return to top
-
Organizations
-
Statistics
-
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder among Adults(National Institute of Mental Health)
- Return to top
-
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder among Adults
-
Children
- Medicines for OCD in Children and Teens(International OCD Foundation)
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder(Nemours Foundation)
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (For Parents)(Nemours Foundation)
-
PANDAS: Frequently Asked Questions about Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections(National Institute of Mental Health)
- Return to top
-
Teenagers
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder(Nemours Foundation)
- Return to top
-
Patient Handouts
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Also available in Spanish
- Return to top
-
You may also be interested in these related encyclopedia pages:
MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - Multiple Languages
