We’re studying an investigational drug to potentially help treat the symptoms of OCD.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common, chronic, and long-lasting disorder in which a person has uncontrollable, reoccurring thoughts (obsessions) and/or behaviors (compulsions) that he or she feels the urge to repeat over and over that interfere with daily life.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) states that symptoms typically begin during childhood, the teenage years, or young adulthood, although males often develop them at a younger age than females. 1.2% of U.S. adults experience OCD each year.
Examples of obsessions include:
- Thoughts about harming or having harmed someone
- Doubts about having done something right, like turning off the stove or locking a door
- Unpleasant sexual images
- Fears of saying or shouting inappropriate things in public
Examples of compulsions include:
- Hand washing due to a fear of germs
- Counting and recounting money because a person can’t be sure they added correctly
- Checking to see if a door is locked or the stove is off
- “Mental checking” that goes with intrusive thoughts is also a form of compulsion
Research is currently being conducted to determine the most effective treatments to reduce symptoms of OCD.