OCD

Published March 04, 2010

One of the primary tasks in dealing with a couple turning to the Puah Institute for help is getting a complete picture of who they are. Occasionally, factors which may seem unimportant or unrelated to fertility (at least in the couple’s opinion) are a direct obstacle to their getting pregnant. Treating or dealing with this factor will often lead to successful conception, without the need for extensive and expensive fertility diagnosis and/or treatments.

In the recent 10th Annual Puah Conference held in Jerusalem, Prof. Yosef Zohar, a world-renowned psychiatrist, discussed the fascinating subject of people who suffer from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. OCD is an anxiety disorder whose sufferers generally obsess about specific concerns (such as cleanliness, safety, health) and respond to those concerns with a compulsion to perform a specific behavior.

As an example, Prof. Zohar cited the case of a person who is concerned about locking their door properly. He obsesses about the door being unlocked and the possible harm that may come from the unlocked door. Despite having locked the door, he is not 100% sure that he has locked the door properly. Prof. Zohar said that not only does such a person check the lock repeatedly; each time he checks the door, he actually becomes less certain that the door is locked. In this person’s eyes, even the smallest chance that the door could still be unlocked is viewed as absolute and possible.

Although it was once thought to be extremely rare, worldwide some 2% of the population are estimated to suffer from some form of OCD. OCD sufferers often recognize that their fears and obsessions are illogical, yet they cannot separate themselves from their concerns or the resulting behaviors.

Unfortunately, OCD is a condition which often goes untreated. Since the person may well know that his fears are illogical, he is embarrassed to discuss the fears with others, even medical professionals. Often, it is only when his compulsions overtake his life and his is unable to function that the person seeks help.
It therefore takes a long time to arrive at a diagnosis. However, since it is both a common and chronic disease, once diagnosed it can often be effectively treated. The range of treatments includes both a psychological approach as well as a pharmacological approach. One needs to be carefully diagnosed and treated by an expert psychiatrist in order to deal with this disorder.

Next week: When having OCD has halachic implications and results.

The Puah Institute is based in Jerusalem and helps couples from all over the world who are experiencing fertility problems. Puah offers free counseling in five languages, halachic supervision, and educational programs. Offices in Jerusalem, New York, Los Angeles and Paris. Contact: (02) 6515050, (Isr) - 718-336-0603 (US) puahonline.org