Sleep disturbance in obsessive compulsion disorder (OCD)

Abstract

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is one of the anxiety disorders that may develop early in life. It may affect children, especially boys who also have a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is also often diagnosed through adolescence and into early adulthood. Among adults, it affects women and men equally. It occurs in 0.5-1% of people in a given year. OCD is characterized by two features: obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions in OCDs are persistent thoughts, images, or impulses that seem intrusive or inappropriate by others. These ideas are often associated with anxiety or distress. One common obsession relates to cleanliness and a belief that objects are contaminated with germs. Other compulsive thoughts in people with OCD are that they think that a task was not completed or done inappropriately. For example, there may be anxiety about turning off the stove or locking the door, even though these were in fact safely secured. These obsessions are often ignored or suppressed by engaging in some other thought or action, which is called a compulsion.