OCD…Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Defined as a chronic anxiety disorder characterised by obsessive, repetitive, distressing thoughts and related compulsions. Criteria defined in the DSM-IV as:

DSM IV Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Criteria

A. Either obsessions or compulsions:

Obsessions as defined by (1), (2), (3), and (4):

(1) recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that are experienced at some time during the disturbance, as intrusive and inappropriate and that cause marked anxiety or distress

(2) the thoughts, impulses, or images are not simply excessive worries about real-life problems

(3) the person attempts to ignore or suppress such thoughts, impulses, or images, or to neutralize them with some other thought or action

(4) the person recognizes that the obsessional thoughts, impulses, or images are a product of his or her own mind (not imposed from without as in thought insertion)

Compulsions as defined by (1) and (2):

(1) repetitive behaviors (e.g., hand washing, ordering, checking) or mental acts (e.g., praying, counting, repeating words silently) that the person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession, or according to rules that must be applied rigidly

(2) the behaviors or mental acts are aimed at preventing or reducing distress or preventing some dreaded event or situation; however, these behaviors or mental acts either are not connected in a realistic way with what they are designed to neutralize or prevent or are clearly excessive

B. At some point during the course of the disorder, the person has recognized that the obsessions or compulsions are excessive or unreasonable. Note: This does not apply to children.

C. The obsessions or compulsions cause marked distress, are time consuming (take more than 1 hour a day), or significantly interfere with the person’s normal routine, occupational (or academic) functioning, or usual social activities or relationships.

D. I another Axis I disorder is present, the content of the obsessions or compulsions is not restricted to it (e.g., preoccupation with food in the presence of an Eating Disorder; hair pulling in the presence of Trichotillomania; concern with appearance in the presence of Body Dysmorphic Disorder; preoccupation with drugs in the presence of a Substance Use Disorder; preoccupation with having a serious illness in the presence of Hypochondriasis; preoccupation with sexual urges or fantasies in the presence of a Paraphilia; or guilty ruminations in the presence of Major Depressive Disorder).

E. The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition.

First, OCD is an acronym that stands for a noun, but it does not mean one can say, “He is OCD.” No, he damned well isn’t! He may or may not have OCD, but he, personally, is not OCD. That is the name of the condition, not a description of a person. Someone who says this, however, is an idiot.

Second, OCD is a medical condition, not a behaviour that is displayed by “normal” people. The fact that I happen to notice there are very few orange Smarties and decide to count the colours over the next several Smarties purchases, and graph the results, means…I noticed something and became curious, so I did an experiment. That’s how a “science mind” works–we notice things, become curious, and devise methods to investigate things that are interesting to us.

If, however, I cannot walk down a street without counting cars and noting their colours, and calculating the percentages of particular colours, and if this compulsion is so strong that I am at least occasionally late for work or appointments because I have been counting cars and calculating percentages instead of walking, and I experience distress or anxiety if I am prevented from counting cars, then I might very well have OCD. Someone who always hangs rolls of paper towel and toilet paper the same way probably does not have OCD. Bit of a neat freak or control freak, perhaps, but OCD…no. Someone who gets up every fifteen minutes (or wakes up during the night) to check, or who can’t leave the house (or go to bed at night) without ensuring that rolls of paper towel and toilet paper are still hanging correctly, and who becomes agitated if prevented from engaging in this behaviour, might very well have OCD. Pending, of course, a proper diagnosis by a qualified medical professional.

Everyone with poor social skills does not have autism or even Asperger’s Syndrome. Some people are simply rude and self-absorbed, and others need more practice in interpersonal actions (put down the CheetOs, turn off WOW and get out of mom’s basement). Everyone who notices patterns and is curious enough to investigate does not have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and no one, anywhere, ever, even if that person has a qualified diagnosis of the condition, “is OCD”. Idiots.