Drug-Induced Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Introduction:

Substance and medication-induced obsessive-compulsive disorder are diagnostic for the drug-induced obsessive-compulsive disorder. It is a mental disorder driving the person to do unwanted things and think unwanted thoughts. These obsessions are related to risk, harm, and injury. They concern more about fear of loss, doubt mostly self-doubt, and fear of physically injuring someone. Obsessive-compulsive disorders are a group of uncontrollable repetitive behaviors. Obsessions are unwanted thoughts that drive compulsive behaviors. They are unwanted fears and beliefs. The obsessive-compulsive disorder includes obsessions and compulsions. These symptoms are persistent, repeated, unwanted actions and thoughts that cause anxiety and distress and are intrusive. Examples of obsession include intense stress when things are not arranged properly, acting inappropriately in public, avoidance of situations and actions like shaking hands, imagining unpleasant sexual images, and doubts like whether the stove is on or off. The treatment involves psychotherapy.

What Is Drug-Induced Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?

Obsessions are persistent thoughts and images that cause distressing emotions like disgust and anxiety. These intrusive thoughts can be controlled by psychotherapy and logical reasoning. Typical concerns include the need for exactness and forbidden religion or sexual thoughts. Compulsions are mental acts or repetitive behaviors that aim to prevent or reduce distress. Common compulsions are checking, repeating, arranging, and ordering. OCD is a chronic disorder in which the person has recurring obsessions and behaviors that urge them to repeat them repeatedly. The causes of OCD include the history of first-degree relatives like siblings or parents who have OCD. Identical twins have more chances of developing OCD.

What Drugs Cause Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders?

The compulsive behaviors and intrusive thoughts are due to various substances and medications.

• Antipsychotics prescribed for schizophrenia.

• Sympathomimetics like epinephrine and norepinephrine.

• Anticholinergics.

• Anticonvulsants.

• Thyroid medications.

• Cannabis.

• Cocaine.

• Toxins.

• Amphetamines are used for ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactive disorder).

• Cocaine-induced obsessive-compulsive disorder.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Drug-Induced Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?

The symptoms include:

• Intrusive obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors like handwashing, skin picking, and hair pulling.

• The symptoms start after one month of drug use and after withdrawal, it causes anxiety symptoms.

• The effects of obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms include distress and anxiety that impacts daily life.

• Hallucinations, referential delusions, impaired sight, disturbed drives.

• Feel to wash their hands frequently even if it is clean; no matter how much they wash, they intend to do it repeatedly. As a result, they waste many hours washing their hands and consuming more handwashes or soap. Furthermore, attempts to resist handwashing can lead to distress and anxiety.

• They recognize the product of their mind and thought as unwanted and irrational.

How Do Quarantine and Social Isolation Cause Drug-Induced Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?

Social isolation caused by obsessive-compulsive disorder leads to addiction and drug abuse. But no logic or sense is seen in their addictions or drug abuse. An obsessive-compulsive disorder can make people feel isolated. The loneliness and isolation lead to substance abuse.

How Soon After Taking the Drug Can It Induce Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?

The obsessive-compulsive episode begins when the individual is high on drugs. The person must receive ongoing assessment as they move through detox and ensure they are correctly diagnosed and treated if the symptoms persist. The diagnosis gives the person a history of obsessive-compulsive disorder without substance use and if the symptoms can continue for over a month after abstaining from the drug. For the diagnosis of substance-induced obsessive disorder, there has to be some significant impact that the obsessive-compulsive behavior is having on the person’s life, either causing distress or impairing some aspects of life such as employment and social relationships.

What Is the Treatment for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?

The underlying substance or medication causing the disorder determines the treatment strategy. The treatment includes stopping the prescription medications determined to cause OCD. Substance obsessive disorders are caused by medications, substance abuse, and toxic exposure that typically disappears once the responsible substance is eliminated. Symptoms will continue until all the toxins are worn off from the body. Smytpmms will continue depending on how long the body can metabolize the substance and continue for weeks after the person discontinues it. When the symptoms disappear, the treatment will include a combination of antidepressant drug therapy and behavioral therapy. The process of obtaining a legitimate prescription that treats any kind of condition is rather involved. Physicians should ensure that the patients receive medications in reasonable doses. The parameters are:

• Choosing the right drug to prescribe.

• Considering alternative medications or additional treatment options.

• Providing the patient with available information includes warnings and instructions about the potential abuse.

• Consistently revisit the medication dosages when the desired outcome has yet to be reached.

• There are better ways to overcome OCD such as cognitive behavioral therapy and to overcome obsessions and compulsions by retraining their thinking. Exposure therapy creates anxiety and discomfort in a specific individual and also helps them increase their tolerance for the activity. Cognitive behavioral therapy is used for some types of drug addiction.

• Psychotherapy involves an individual or group of therapy sessions given by a licensed therapist or psychologist. It is an effective treatment for depression.

• Cognitive behavioral therapy is a very helpful tool for treating mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. It addresses symptoms such as coping with stressful situations and coping with grief or loss.

• Antidepressants help to manage the levels of neurotransmitters that are responsible for communication in the brain. Depending on the type of symptom the medication is selected. Some of the antidepressants include Sertraline, Paroxetine, Fluoxetine, and Citalopram.

• Relaxation and breathing techniques help to relieve muscle tension and anxiety. It encourages a sense of control during stressful situations.

• Yoga consists of body postures and breathing techniques.

• Regular exercise.

• Getting quality sleep.

• Eating a healthy diet.

• Avoid alcohol, which is a depressant.

• Spending time with family and loved ones.

Conclusion:

Drug-induced OCD is a type of compulsive behavior that includes depressive symptoms with the addition of anxiety and thoughts that impair the body's normal function. Studies are conducted to find the potential risk between anxiety and depression. Though it is difficult to treat there are many ways to move forward.