A study on obsessive-compulsive disorders: diagnosis, influence of neuropsychological mechanisms, causes and treatment

Abstract

Rare, but a serious mental disorder, OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) is an atypical neurosis, whose importance to public health has been underestimated. The unattended need of individuals with OCD, requires investigation of the barriers to care and intervention, encouraging the search for help. Therefore, there is a need for deeper understanding, helping to integrate more data into neuropsychological perspectives. Facts that lead to problematization: treatment process without multidisciplinary investigations may require more time to control symptoms. In response to the problem, a bibliographic study was made, a deductive method with qualitative analysis technique, guided by the objectives: analyze OCD patients, influences of neuropsychological mechanisms, comorbidities, causes and treatment; describe the neuronal and psychological functionality involved in the symptoms; describe the diagnostic process, characterize symptoms and causes; raise psychiatric and clinical treatment procedures. The contents discussion proves an associated research with other areas, such as psychology and neurology, aiming OCD.