Obsessive-compulsive disorder differential diagnosis
|
Obsessive-compulsive disorder Microchapters |
|
Differentiating Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder from other Diseases |
|---|
|
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder due to Another Medical Condition |
|
Diagnosis |
|
Treatment |
|
Case Studies |
|
Obsessive-compulsive disorder differential diagnosis On the Web |
|
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Obsessive-compulsive disorder differential diagnosis |
|
Obsessive-compulsive disorder differential diagnosis in the news |
|
Blogs on Obsessive-compulsive disorder differential diagnosis |
|
Directions to Hospitals Treating Obsessive-compulsive disorder |
|
Risk calculators and risk factors for Obsessive-compulsive disorder differential diagnosis |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Differential Diagnosis
People with OCD may be diagnosed with other conditions, such as anorexia nervosa, social anxiety disorder, bulimia nervosa, Tourette syndrome, compulsive skin picking, body dysmorphic disorder, and trichotillomania. There is some research demonstrating a link between drug addiction and obsessive compulsive disorder as well. Many who suffer from OCD suffer from panic attacks. There is a higher risk of drug addiction among those with any anxiety disorder (possibly as a way of coping with the heightened levels of anxiety), but drug addiction among obsessive compulsive patients may serve as a type of compulsive behavior and not just as a coping mechanism. Depression is also extremely prevalent among sufferers of OCD. One explanation for the high depression rate among OCD populations was posited by Mineka, Watson, and Clark (1998), who explained that people with OCD (or any other anxiety disorder) may feel depressed because of an "out of control" type of feeling.[1]
Some cases are thought to be caused at least in part by childhood streptococcal infections and are termed PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections). The streptococcal antibodies become involved in an autoimmune process. Though this idea is not set in stone, if it does prove to be true, there is cause to believe that OCD can to some very small extent be "caught" via exposure to strep throat (just as one may catch a cold). However, if OCD is caused by bacteria, this provides hope that antibiotics may eventually be used to treat or prevent it.[2]
References
- ↑ Mineka S, Watson D, Clark LA (1998). "Comorbidity of anxiety and unipolar mood disorders". Annual review of psychology. 49: 377–412. doi:10.1146/annurev.psych.49.1.377. PMID 9496627.
- ↑ Belkin, L. > "Can You Catch Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?". The New York Times Magazine. Retrieved 2006-04-12.