A short summary of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or OCD, is a mental condition where an individual experiences frequent, unwanted obsessions and finds relief in a compulsion. Compulsions may be subtle, such as avoidance or mental reviewing. They may also be more overt, like excessive handwashing or checking a stove repeatedly in a short period. Regardless of an individual`s compulsions or how compulsions present, OCD can be debilitating and may severely impact an individual’s daily life.

Symptoms of as OCD were documented as early as classical antiquity. The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates described cases of “melancholia” in individuals ruminating on religious doubts and fears of contamination. In the Middle Ages, people exhibiting repetitive behaviors were believed to be extraordinarily devout or, conversely, possessed by demons. In the 17th century, the human psyche became a topic of growing interest, with many in the educated and upper classes concerning themselves with afflictions of the mind. Although not entirely scientific, Robert Burton`s 1621 popular compendium “The Anatomy of Melancholy” brought depression and anxiety into the mainstream and has been reprinted as frequently as 2001, no longer as a science article, but sui generis: in a genre of its own.