What disorders are similar to or associated with OCD?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental illness that causes repeated, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions). Symptoms of OCD can be severe and disabling.
Several disorders are similar to or associated with OCD. These include:
- Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD): BDD is a mental illness in which a person is preoccupied with one or more perceived flaws in their appearance. People with BDD may spend hours grooming or trying to hide their perceived flaws. They may also avoid social situations or have difficulty functioning at work or school.
- Trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder): Trichotillomania is a mental illness in which a person repeatedly pulls out their hair. People with trichotillomania may pull out their hair from their head, eyebrows, eyelashes, or other parts of their body. They may also eat or swallow their hair.
- Excoriation disorder (skin-picking disorder): Excoriation disorder is a mental illness in which a person repeatedly picks at their skin. People with excoriation disorder may pick at their skin until they bleed or cause sores. They may also feel ashamed of their skin and avoid social situations.
- Hoarding disorder: Hoarding disorder is a mental illness in which a person has difficulty discarding or parting with their belongings. People with hoarding disorder may accumulate a large number of items that fill their homes and make it difficult to move around.
- Tourette syndrome: Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder that causes tics. Tics are involuntary movements or sounds. People with Tourette syndrome may have motor tics, such as eye blinking, shoulder shrugging, or arm jerking. They may also have vocal tics, such as throat clearing, coughing, or grunting.
- Anxiety disorders: Anxiety disorders are a group of mental illnesses that cause excessive fear or anxiety. People with anxiety disorders may avoid situations that make them feel anxious, or they may have physical symptoms of anxiety, such as sweating, shaking, or racing heart.
- Depressive disorders: Depressive disorders are a group of mental illnesses that cause low mood and loss of interest in activities. People with depressive disorders may also have difficulty sleeping, eating, or concentrating.
It is important to note that these disorders are not the same as OCD. However, they can have similar symptoms or be associated with OCD. If you think you may have one of these disorders, it is important to see a mental health professional for diagnosis and treatment.