Obsessive Compulsive Disorder OCD
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder a.k.a. OCD is a common chronic long-lasting disorder in which an individual experiences uncontrollable repeated obsessions or behaviours. Children and adolescents may experience Obsessive Compulsive Disorder too, with multiple obsessions and compulsions possibly changing content over time.
Common obsessions include excessive fear of dirt, germs or sickness, excessive fear of a loved one being in danger, obsessions related to religion or sex, as well as an uncontrollable need for symmetry and exactness.
Common compulsions include ritualistic handwashing, repetitions, checking, counting, ordering, hoarding, and touching.
Tic Disorder
Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a condition related to the nervous system which causes individuals to experience tics. Tics are sudden, rapid, non-rhythmic twitches and movements (motor tics) or sounds (vocal tics) that affected individuals repeat over and over, with no control whatsoever. Children who are diagnosed with tic disorder can also exhibit associated behavioural difficulties.
Dissociative Disorder DD
Dissociative disorder is a mental disorder involving disconnection and lack of continuity between thoughts, memories, surroundings, actions and identity. Individuals with dissociative disorders experience problems with day-to-day functioning as they tend to escape reality involuntarily. This disorder has been linked with childhood trauma.
Dissociative disorder symptoms may include amnesia, disturbances in sense of self, trance-like states, rapid mood shifts and behaviour, knowledge-memory-skills access fluctuations, hallucinations (auditory and visual), and vivid imaginary friendships (in children and adolescents). Stress tends to exacerbate these symptoms.
Treatment for dissociative disorders includes a combination of psychotherapy and medication. Although difficult to treat, early identification and intervention increases the chance of affected individuals being able to lead healthy and productive lives.
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