PREVALENCE OF OCD IN ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA

According to WHO Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is one of the common and sixth most disabling psychiatric disorders in the world. OCD is highly comorbid with other psychiatric illnesses most commonly depression and anxiety disorders. OCD is described by the presence of one or many obsessions and compulsions that consume time and signicantly interfere with the client's routine work, family, and social life that causing marked distress (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). This disorder comprises three different elements such as (i) obsession, (ii) compulsion, and (iii) extensive avoidance (McKay, 2004). Obsession deals with unwanted and intrusive images, thoughts as well as it evokes doubts about actions. Compulsion is the second element that has been elucidated as distinct behavioral actions which include mental ritual that intends to neutralize the obsessions or to verify behaviors that are subjected to doubts. The third element is extensive avoidance, people with OCD involve deliberately avoiding the situation, places etc., to check for the stimulation caused by obsessive thoughts and compulsive acts tied to it. Both compulsive behavior and extensive avoidance behavior serve as the maintaining factors of OCD (Hawton, 1989).