Imagine being tortured by repeated thoughts of stabbing your
child or having sex with your minister — thoughts that won’t
go away no matter how hard you try to suppress them.
In the largest study of its kind ever conducted in North
America, University of British Columbia researchers will spend
four years treating 120 people suffering from this disorder,
previously thought to be untreatable.
A subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), the illness
is called OCD with primary obsessions. Characterized by persistent,
unwanted and repugnant thoughts that are not acted upon, the
disorder affects men and women equally and can develop in
childhood. The cause is unknown but symptoms deteriorate with
stress. The most common OCD primary obsessions involve sexual,
violent or blasphemous content and may include repugnant thoughts
about God, hurting a loved one or inappropriate sexual acts.
Sufferers account for about 20 per cent of all OCD patients.
Unlike other forms of OCD, the disorder has no visible symptoms,
which makes it extremely difficult to diagnose and virtually
untreatable. In addition, the disorder is more resistant to
medication than other forms of OCD.
"This is a common disorder that is largely unrecognized
because people are ashamed to talk about it," says UBC
Psychiatry Prof. Peter McLean, who is leading the study. "People
are often misdiagnosed and treated for the depression and
stress that often accompany the disorder."
A team of 10 OCD experts at the Anxiety Disorders Unit of
UBC Hospital will compare the effectiveness of two different
therapies, both of which focus on thoughts and behaviour.
"This and other forms of OCD can be crippling, yet
there are no specialized treatment programs in B.C. and many
patients are being sent to the U.S. for help," says co-investigator
Maureen Whittal. "U.S. hospital stays that may last weeks
or months can cost up to $600 US per day – Canadian taxpayers
are absorbing the costs."
Approximately 1,600 hospital days are associated with severe
OCD cases in B.C.
Those wishing to be involved in the study must live in the
Lower Mainland and be 19 years of age or older. The treatment
is free and no doctor referral is necessary. Participants
will be interviewed by telephone prior to selection for the
study. For further information, contact a UBC anxiety specialist
at 604.822.7676.
Interviews with sufferers of OCD with primary obsessions
can be arranged providing there is guarantee of anonymity.
Attached is a backgrounder
on OCD.
-30-
