Communication With the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Communicating Effectively With a Person Diagnosed With Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive compulsive disorder affects roughly 2.5% of the population every year (APA, 2005). Patients with OCD often have difficulty engaging in social interaction and communicating with those around them. Fortunately there are a number of effective treatment strategies that can improve communication with patients diagnosed with OCD. This study examines the methods caregivers and family members can adopt to facilitate effective communication with patients diagnosed with OCD.

Each year thousands of individuals are diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) a biologically and psychologically-based mental disorder that can disrupt a patient's social and emotional state. OCD often impairs a patient's ability to not only engage in routine social behavior but also impairs a patient's ability to communicate effectively with those in the world around them. Patients with OCD often engage in ritualistic behaviors that isolate them from friends, family members and peers making communication even more challenging for patients with OCD.

Caregivers must take special precautions and work with patients in prescribed manners to help facilitate effective communication with OCD patients. This may involved pharmaceutical treatment combined with cognitive behavioral therapy and stress or anxiety reduction. In many cases patients with OCD have co morbid conditions including depression that must also be treated in order to stimulate effective communication and treatment for patients. These ideas are explored in more depth below.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Background

According to the American Psychiatric Association (1994) obsessive compulsive disorder can be described as a chronic condition that impairs adult's ability to engage in social, occupational and familial relationships. Roughly 2.5% of adults have obsessive compulsive disorder, which may result in distress and the need for adults to exude more effort when engaging in ritualistic behaviors (Steketee, Chambless & Tran, 2001; Geffken, Gefland, Goodman & Storch, 2003). Many patients with obsessive compulsive disorder have other psychological or emotional problems with roughly 60% requiring treatment for depression and anxiety in addition to OCD (Geffken, et. al, 2001).

Obsessive compulsive disorder is difficult to treat, though multiple studies suggest cognitive behavioral therapy may be the best approach for enabling self-sufficiency in victims with this disorder (Geffken, et. al, 2003), Important components of treatment must include preventing exposure to stimuli that cause anxiety in addition to encouraging refraining from ritualistic or compulsive behaviors associated with OCD (Geffken, et. al, 2003). This in turn may reduce the likelihood that an individual will feel the need to engage in habitual behaviors to reduce anxiety.

Communicating With Patients

Communication with patients diagnosed with OCD can be challenging. Fortunately there are a number of steps caregivers and family members can take to encourage positive and proactive communication with patients diagnosed with OCD. Many patients for example feel ostracized by family and peer groups thus tend to reduce the amount of time they spend communicating with peers and family members (Geffken, et. al, 2001). Still others come to associated negative feelings with certain group settings, which may trigger anxiety and further compulsive behaviors. It is important that caregivers work with patients in this case to help prevent exposure to stimuli that cause anxiety and fear. This can be accomplished by helping the patient identify objects or situations that provoke anxiety or negative associations, including identifying themes that produce negativity (Geffken, et. al, 2001).

Patients should be encouraged to engage in discourse in a safe, non-anxiety and non-pressure atmosphere. Caregivers must also work with patients to uncover underlying emotions that may contribute to anxiety producing thoughts, such as behaviors (Geffken, et. al, 2001). Improved self-esteem and reduced negative thoughts may enable better communication among patients and family members or friends. One method for facilitating better communication in this instance is allowing patients to rehears conversations with other friends of family members in an encouraging environment (Geffken, et. al, 2001). It is important during rehearsals that patients are able to examine their self-thoughts, which may reveal why patients feel anxious in a given situation. Often their fears may be legitimized but more often patients come to realize that their compulsive behavior is unreasonable (Geffken, et. al, 2001).

Social skills training is often a vital component of communication training for patients with OCD (Geffken, et. al, 2001). Social skills training can enable a higher comfort level among patients talking with or attempting to communicate in large or small groups, and may enhance a patients ability to initiate conversations and maintain conversations using body language including eye contact and smiling (Geffken, et. al, 2001).

Familial and Peer Support For Encouraging Effective Communication

Familial support and encouragement is also vital toward improving communication in patients with OCD (Goodman, Maser & Rudorfer, 2000). Patients with OCD often feel particularly exposed and sensitive to stress provoking situations, which may be exacerbated by certain familial conditions or events (Goodman, Maser & Rudorfer, 2000). It is important that within limited peer groups and family settings patients feel accepted.

A history of early family difficulties, separation or attachment issues may contribute to a worsening condition and lack of clear communication with the patient. Unfortunately few studies have been conducted examining the exact relationship between supportive family, peer and social environments and communication with OCD patients (Goodman, Maser & Rudorf, 2000). Further studies need to be conducted and systematically evaluated within this area to provide additional insight into factors that may improve communication with patients having OCD.

Family members can help patients communicate better first by understanding as much as they can about OCD, the causes of the disorder and various treatment options. Family member can support patients by helping them realize treatments are available and offering educational materials when appropriate to patients in need (Expert Knowledge Systems, 2005). Reaction to symptoms of OCD can make problems worse thus in some cases it may be necessary to have family members participate in therapy with patients to learn how to avoid reacting to ritualistic behaviors (Expert Knowledge Systems, 2005). This in turn may limit the indirect participation family members have with OCD rituals without their knowledge and promote healing.

Negative communication, reflections or comments from friends or family members can contribute to compulsive or obsessive behaviors and limit communication among family members and patients (Expert Knowledge Systems, 2005). Because of this it is important family member provide a supportive and embracing environment for patients to improve the outcome of treatment. Patience is often necessary when communication with someone diagnosed with OCD. Telling the patient to stop their behaviors often increases anxiety and the compulsive behavior, and decreases the likelihood that patients will want to open up or discuss their situation. Thus it is important that family members avoid telling the person what to do and instead provide support and encouragement for therapy (Expert Knowledge Systems, 2005).