One of the common mental disorders is the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) that affects nearly 2% of global population. Obsessions are referred to the repeatedly disturbing thoughts, and people suffering from OCD often feel the need to inspect things frequently, have definite feelings, or execute procedures again and again. The feelings and procedures connected with OCD are the reason for agony that disturbs the daily routine of the person with OCD. People with OCD may also be distracted with directions and consistency, have trouble tossing things, or store items that are not essential. Although most people with OCD realize their senseless activities, some people and kids may not understand that they behave strangely.
OCD Symptoms. The symptoms range from more common compulsions of washing and checking to less known ones such as hoarding and scrupulosity . People with OCD find it difficult to control the uninvited feelings and activities. Few other symptoms include, viewing images about various things resulting in fear of germs, dirt, or impostors; fearing acts related to sex and violence, disagreements with religious sentiments, and trying to be clean and tidy always.
Prevalence of OCD in America. As reported by National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH), about 3 percent Americans have OCD, where the typical age of onset for boys is 6 to 15, and for women it is between 20 and 30 . The mental report from World Health Organization states that OCD is one of the reasons for illness-related disability globally, for people aged between 15 and 44 years. After the phobias, depression and drug abuse, OCD is considered as the fourth most common mental illness.
Causes linked to the disorder. OCD can be linked either to the biological factors or behavioral factors. OCD may be a result of changes in body’s own natural chemistry or brain functions, or maybe a genetic component, but specific genes are to be identified . It is been validated that a few parts of the brain function in a different way in people suffering from OCD as compared with those who did not have OCD. Chemicals such as dopamine, serotonin, glutamate that are involved in communicating in brain cells, and the irregularities in the neurotransmitter systems are linked as a cause for this disorder.
Treating OCD. Research is done on deep brain stimulation (DBS) to treat OCD . People with OCD are normally treated with Psychotherapy or Medication, or both. Psychotherapy includes cognitive behavior therapy, and exposure and response prevention, whereas medication consists of antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications. Medication does not last long after the treatment, so a combination of medication and cognitive behavior therapy is the most efficient method to treat people with OCD.
Matchstick Men Movie. The 2003 American drama film Matchstick Men in which Roy Waller (Nicholas Cage) plays a con artist suffering from OCD. Roy along with his partner work on variety of long and short scams and frauds throughout the movie till Roy meets a woman who changes his habits and cons him in the climax.
Roy is a rough OCD, and hesitates to come out of his apartment, and always has an image of rat’s nest in his mind. His compulsion involves an unpredictable obsession about cleanliness and organizing things at home. A few scenes that depict his OCD are wearing gloves to clean the utensils to keep the hand clean, scrubbing the carpet, organizing the cupboard along with his physical convulsions, and an unusual habit of yelling pygmies. In situations when he has to leave his apartment, he shuts the door five times and then locks it, and repeats the same method after opening the door. Overall, the movie “Matchstick Men” does a fair job at in portraying OCD, however the way it tries to portray is reduced through personal connection, rather than through powerful and extreme exposure to obsessions.
Works Cited
Hyman, Bruce M and Cherry Pedrick. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Revised. Twenty-First Century Books, 2008. Print.
Mayo Clinic. "Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): Causes." 13 August 2013. http://www.mayoclinic.org/. Article. <http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ocd/basics/causes/con-20027827>.
Swierzewski, Stanley J. "Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Overview." 01 February 2001. http://www.healthcommunities.com/. Article. 12 May 2014. <http://www.healthcommunities.com/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/overview-of-ocd.shtml>.
