Ocd high intelligence

Myth Debunked that OCD Is Associated With Superior Intelligence -- ScienceDaily

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Date:: September 18, 2017
Source:: American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Summary:: Researchers conducted a meta-analysis of all the available literature on IQ in OCD samples versus non-psychiatric controls (98 studies), and found that contrary to the prevailing myth, OCD is not associated with superior IQ, but with normative IQ that is slightly lower compared to control samples. The authors suggested that the small reduction in IQ scores in OCD sufferers may be largely attributed to OCD-related slowness and not to intellectual ability.
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Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is not associated with a higher intelligence quotient (IQ), a myth popularized by Sigmund Freud, according to researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), Texas State University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The study, published in the Neuropsychology Review, is believed to be the first analysis of existing data on the link between IQ and OCD sufferers verses the general population. The authors tracked the origins of the myth to the French philosopher, physician and psychologist Pierre Janet in 1903, but it was Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, who popularized the hypothesis in 1909.

"Although this myth was never studied empirically until now, it is still a widely held belief among mental-health professionals, OCD sufferers and the general public," says Dr. Gideon Anholt, a senior lecturer in BGU's Department of Psychology.

The researchers conducted a meta-analysis of all the available literature on IQ in OCD samples versus non-psychiatric controls (98 studies), and found that contrary to the prevailing myth, OCD is not associated with superior IQ, but with normative IQ that is slightly lower compared to control samples. The authors suggested that the small reduction in IQ scores in OCD sufferers may be largely attributed to OCD-related slowness and not to intellectual ability.

The popular misconception about OCD has been further promoted by TV programs like "Monk," which show an individual with OCD using his superior intelligence to solve challenging mysteries. Yet, such beliefs about OCD may facilitate the misconception that there are advantages associated with the disorder, potentially decreasing one's motivation to seek professional help.

"Future IQ assessments of individuals with OCD should focus on verbal and not performance IQ -- a score heavily influenced by slowness," the researchers say.

The research team also included Dr. Amitai Abromovich, Texas State University; Sagi Raveh-Gottfried, psychology department, BGU; Dr. Jonathan S. Abramowitz, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and Naama Hamo, Ruppin Academic Center, Israel.

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Materials provided by American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:

Amitai Abramovitch, Gideon Anholt, Sagi Raveh-Gottfried, Naama Hamo, Jonathan S. Abramowitz. Meta-Analysis of Intelligence Quotient (IQ) in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Neuropsychology Review, 2017; DOI: 10.1007/s11065-017-9358-0

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American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. "Myth Debunked that OCD Is Associated With Superior Intelligence." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 18 September 2017. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170918123541.htm>.

American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. (2017, September 18). Myth Debunked that OCD Is Associated With Superior Intelligence. ScienceDaily. Retrieved December 28, 2022 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170918123541. htm

American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. "Myth Debunked that OCD Is Associated With Superior Intelligence." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170918123541.htm (accessed December 28, 2022).

Are People Suffering From OCD More Intelligent?

When one sees a friend being very particular about having their room spic and span, it’s quite common to hear the offhand comment, “Oh my God, you’re so OCD!”

Or when one thinks of Monica Geller, the mother hen of the F.R.I.E.N.D.S, with her controlling personality and nit-picky neatness, immortalised in her line, “It isn’t just Health Department clean, it’s Monica clean!” it would be easy to assume that she was OCD, too.

Not Just About Cleanliness

However, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder runs far deeper than a quirky obsession with cleanliness that doesn’t otherwise hinder one’s life. In fact, a need for extreme cleanliness is just one facet of OCD, and doesn’t manifest itself in everyone with the illness.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a common, chronic and long-lasting disorder in which a person has uncontrollable, reoccurring thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions) that he or she feels the urge to repeat over and over.

The Obsessions

OCD typically manifests itself when one finds themselves developing certain obsessions, such as having taboo thoughts about religion, having aggressive thoughts, being terrified of contamination, and an excessive desire for symmetry.

The Compulsions

These obsessions create extreme anxiety in the patient, and lead to them acting on certain compulsions in order to justify these obsessions, such as repeated hand washing, counting to a certain number or repeating a certain phrase, performing actions a certain number of times, or even checking on the same thing repeatedly.

A Debilitating Illness

These intrusive thoughts and compulsions can cause extreme anxiety and self-loathing in the individual, and could even be debilitating, resulting in them spending a lot of time catering to their compulsions, and losing out on time to perform other, more constructive activities.

Read More: This Lean In India Event Takes A Look At The Neglected Sector Of Women On Career Break

How it Gets Better

OCD is rarely completely cured, but it can be treated to a very large extent with therapy and medication, and can be turned from a voice that dominates one’s thoughts to an annoying little whisper that can be easily ignored.

While it is not always true that people with OCD have extremely high intellect (unless they’re Sheldon Cooper or Nikola Tesla!), it is often noted by psychiatrists that patients with OCD have above average intelligence.

Painfully Aware

The need to constantly find patterns in everything, to always be alert to even minor changes in one’s immediate environment, rigid planning, painstaking attention to detail, and copious amounts of research on anything that could be a cause of worry is usually accommodated by an above-average intellect, as it requires a certain degree of mental agility to spin patterns and be constantly aware of minute details.

Medical Intervention

However, having an above-average intellect does not mean having an above-average ability to rationalise, and even if one is highly intelligent, it is almost impossible to get over OCD simply by trying to “think” or “talk” oneself out of it.

Medical intervention is necessary for cure, and delays in seeking help could make the obsessions stronger, and increase the misery and anxiety of the victim.

Image Credits: Google Images

Sources: National Institute of Mental Health (NIH), Wexford Mental Health Association, Quora

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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD): what it is, symptoms, treatment, advice from a doctor Some people develop symptoms during adolescence, although they are usually diagnosed in adults.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder can significantly interfere with a fulfilling life, but treatment can help keep it under control.

Let's figure out together with experts what are the causes of OCD, what therapeutic and drug methods are used by doctors, and how to behave relatives of a person who has been diagnosed with this disorder. nine0003

Contents

What it is
Signs and symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
How to treat
Advice for relatives

What is obsessive-compulsive disorder?

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Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a common chronic and long-term condition in which a person has uncontrollable repetitive, obsessive thoughts (ideas) and/or actions (behaviors) [1]. OCD is diagnosed in 1.3% of the world's population [2]. nine0003

Many people confuse OCD with nail biting or negative thinking. Both can be a sign of the disease, but other diagnostic criteria must be taken into account. The obsession is often that a person considers certain numbers or colors to be "good" or "bad". It happens that the habit with OCD is washing your hands repeatedly after touching something that is considered dirty, infected, dangerous. Although the person does not want to think or do it, he is unable to stop [3]. nine0003

Vladimir BelovMedical psychologist, child psychologist, consultant suicidologist, leading specialist of the Semeynaya clinic network

“Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a neuropsychological disorder that always includes two components:

obsessions - persistent thoughts or impulses, intrusive and unacceptable, causing anxiety;
compulsions are rituals that are built into the thoughts of a person, he considers it necessary to perform them in response to an obsession. nine0016

The most common connection between these components is that compulsions are actions whose purpose is to neutralize or reduce the distress caused by obsessions. Rituals include such processes as endless washing of hands, double-checking one's own actions or the state of some objects. For some people, these are specific prayers, rituals when going to work, when returning to an apartment, while waiting for transport.

Signs and symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder

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Obsessions - involuntary thoughts and ideas: "I shook hands with a person and now I can get infected with something." This rumination in itself is perfectly normal, but the person with OCD will wash their hands again and again, unable to get rid of it. This is already a compulsion - an obsessive behavior, an individual unstoppable ritual. In the short term, it reduces anxiety, but the thought returns and the action must be repeated. A person feels that he must do it, while he cannot stop. Everyone has recurring habits or thoughts that recur frequently. But in the case of OCD they are:

present daily;
are uncontrollable;
are not enjoyable;
affect work and social life.

It's not unusual to wonder if the curling iron is unplugged. It’s worth worrying if this thought haunts you every day, makes you return home halfway from work and check (more than once, even if you just made sure that the device is not turned on). Obsessive-compulsive disorder comes in many forms, but most cases fall into at least one of the four main categories. The symptoms of OCD are rooted in the person's obsessive behavior. For example, he:

Checks if the door is locked, if the iron and oven are switched off.
Unreasonably suspects undiagnosed health conditions such as pregnancy or schizophrenia.
Afraid of germs, things that can be dirty, constantly cleaning.
Strives for excessive symmetry and order, feels the need to arrange things in a certain way: by size, colors or alphabet.
Cannot drive obsessive thoughts and ideas away from himself. Some of them can be violent or disturbing. nine0016

Anastasia AfanasyevaPsychiatrist, psychotherapist, clinical director of the psychological platform Alter

“Intrusive thoughts can occur as part of a variety of disorders, from psychosis to anxiety. To understand what disease these thoughts can be associated with, experts look at how a person treats them. For example, a person in psychosis may not even have a shadow of doubt and discomfort from the fact that the obsessive thought “you can harm your child” is spinning in his head. A person with OCD cannot have this, he will be frightened by such thoughts, and he will try to do everything to prevent this from happening, for example, remove all sharp objects away from him or not approach the child. Discomfort and the feeling that these thoughts are "inadequate", "wrong" will be an important identifying factor that this is OCD. nine0003

People without disorders can also have obsessive thoughts, but normally we quickly cope with them and they do not disturb life, forcing us to rebuild it for ourselves: the thought appeared - the person brushed it off and moved on.

Causes of OCD

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Doctors do not give a specific explanation of the causes of the onset and development of OCD. It is most often diagnosed in adolescence and adulthood, with women 1.6 times more likely than men [4]. The factors for the development of the disease include:

Genetics. If you have OCD in your next of kin—father, mother, brother, and sister—the chances are high that you have it too.
Structure and function of the brain. In the brain of OCD sufferers, increased activity is recorded in the region of the cortico-striatal-thalamo-cortical loop [5].
Environment. High levels of stress, increased anxiety can also be a trigger for the development of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Concomitant diseases. OCD is often diagnosed in parallel with eating disorders and depression [6]. nine0016
Traumatic events. The disorder can be the result of difficult circumstances experienced: psychological and sexual abuse, physical trauma, loss of loved ones.
Infections. Occasionally, OCD is found in children who have had a streptococcal infection. This is called pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders.

There is a hypothesis that disturbing deviations developed and persisted in the course of evolution [7]. When people did not have access to modern advances in medicine and hygiene, those who had less contact with a possible source of infection and were constantly on the alert, assessing possible risks and double-checking the safety of food and housing, survived. nine0003

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Diagnostics

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All people from time to time find themselves in stressful situations, many people find it helpful to put things in order at home or in the closet, everyone at least once caught himself thinking that he had not turned off the coffee maker in a hurry to a meeting. It doesn't mean you have OCD. Only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis. Contact a specialist if the above symptoms directly affect your relationship with yourself and others, steal time, do not allow you to relax and enjoy life. nine0003

In society, the attitude towards OCD is often superficial and not serious. It is often perceived as a funny feature of a person. But the worsening symptoms cannot be controlled by willpower alone. OCD can be expressed in varying degrees of obsession, and for many it really does not interfere (and can help maintain cleanliness and keep processes under control), but for others it poses a real threat to normal life [8].

There are specialized tests for obsessive-compulsive disorder. Try to answer several questions in the format "often", "rarely", "never", "always":

Do you have obsessive thoughts about possible tragic events, death, serious illnesses, fires, accidents?
Are you concerned about the possibility of contamination with germs and chemicals?
Do you unnecessarily re-read emails or text messages before or after sending them?
Are you obsessed with keeping everything in order (cataloging books, perfect stacks of clothes in your closet, sized pencils on your desk)? nine0016
Do you repeat routine activities such as opening a door, putting on your shoes, or getting into bed over and over again until you feel like you've done it "right"?
Do you have recurring inappropriate thoughts (often of a religious, violent, or sexual nature) that seem intrusive and out of control?
Do you feel the need to constantly seek confirmation of what you have said or done?
Do you follow ritualized washing, cleaning or personal grooming habits (eg washing your hands five times in a row)? nine0016
Do you avoid certain colors or numbers because you consider them "unlucky"?
Do you check your trash before throwing it away to make sure it's clean?
Do you worry about doing something out of a senseless urge, like pushing a stranger or hitting a loved one?
Do you check oven handles, door locks and car brakes over and over again in a short period of time? nine0016

If most of the described thoughts and situations appear suspiciously often in your daily life, you should consult a general practitioner. He will conduct a physical examination and order blood tests to make sure that the symptoms are not caused by something else. If OCD is suspected, work with a therapist or psychiatrist to talk about life circumstances, feelings, thoughts, and habits.

How to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder

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There is no specific drug that can completely eliminate the symptoms of OCD. But medication support and additional psychological techniques for working on oneself help to work through this problem and keep it under control.

Psychotherapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy allows you to change your thinking patterns. Anastasia Afanasyeva believes that one of the most important techniques when working with OCD is distancing, exposing and challenging thoughts: “Distancing is a group of techniques in which we teach a person with OCD to notice intrusive thoughts, realize their ineffectiveness and switch from thinking about them to current ones. affairs. It is important here not to try to start controlling and “not thinking” these thoughts, as this is unrealistic and causes even more anxiety. Instead, for example, we can imagine that thoughts are like an annoying radio broadcast that cannot be turned off, but is not worth listening to. nine0003

Exposure is the conscious exposure to uncomfortable situations in order to gradually learn to endure stress and stop using rituals that reduce anxiety in the moment, such as double-checking, washing hands, avoiding sharp objects.

Challenging and checking the reality of thoughts helps to understand that often a thought is just a thought and not every thought that comes to mind is worth believing. To assess how true this idea is, you can write it down on a piece of paper and give facts for and against its correctness. nine0003

Relaxation

Anxiety and obsessive thoughts are inevitably associated with tension in the body. Available meditation techniques, as well as massage and yoga classes, help to consciously look at the circumstances and cope with stress.

Anastasia Afanasyeva:

“In general, working with anxiety disorders always involves homework, as people learn to cope with their anxiety not only in the psychologist's office, but also in situations that arise in everyday life. Mostly it's working with thoughts and changing behavioral strategies that support OCD or reduce anxiety for only a short time. nine0003

The most common treatment for OCD involves individual sessions with a psychotherapist. There are practically no therapy protocols with proven efficacy for groups.”

Medicines

When taking drugs, you can achieve a stable remission. The timing of drug treatment will be determined by the attending physician. Do not stop taking antidepressants at the first sign of improvement.

Vladimir Belov:

“First of all, we need both a psychiatrist and a medical psychologist/psychotherapist. Because, on the one hand, cognitive-behavioral therapy is used, which is quite effective and has a lot of scientific evidence: exposure and prevention of reactions and rituals. This program goes on for several months and is combined with drugs. First of all, these are antidepressants - selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and atypical antipsychotic drugs. Much depends on the condition of the patient and the severity of the process in which he is. nine0003

What to do for relatives of a patient with OCD

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People who live near a person with OCD often find themselves in difficult conditions. They want to help by interrupting the compulsive manifestations of a loved one, which can create an even more stressful situation for him. But it is also not worth closing your eyes to the disease. Psychologists advise updating it, pronouncing the problem. Develop the emotional intelligence of a loved one: let's understand that he can safely talk to you about any of his feelings. Emphasize that you are always ready to listen and help: “I am with you, we will deal with this problem together.” nine0003

Anastasia Afanasyeva:

“If someone in your family suffers from OCD, one of the important tasks that you face is to stay out of the anxiety maintenance cycle. For example, one should not encourage the desire for excessive cleanliness, endless washing of clothes, washing hands, constant fruitless visits to doctors, one should not participate in rechecking any facts. You need to understand that this does not help a loved one cope with anxiety, but reinforces a non-working pattern of behavior and serves as proof that such behavior and thoughts are justified. nine0003

Forums, support groups for people with OCD

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The best option is to contact a trusted doctor and treat according to his recommendations. In addition to medicines and work with a specialist, independent tasks play an important role. It is important for people with OCD to talk about the problem and see the support of others. Like-minded forums often help. You can join thematic groups on social networks or contact volunteers:

Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) - mental health resources, including conferences of the International OCD Foundation. There are online support groups for those with the disorder.
OCD Peers - Virtual support groups (6-10 members) using a HIPAA compliant platform. Video conferences with group mentor, open discussions and agenda. All groups are paid.
7 cups - on the platform you can find a volunteer who will be in touch and ready to listen to the problem. This is not a qualified professional, but sometimes speaking out to an attentive listener is just as important as working through a problem with a licensed psychotherapist. nine0016
Support Groups - A free resource with several hundred support groups on a variety of topics, including those for OCD sufferers. Groups are moderated to avoid bullying and inappropriate user reactions.
HealthUnlocked - literally "health unlocked" - a resource with forums to support people with various diseases. The ROC topic is moderated not only by the portal administrators, but also by representatives of the International ROC Foundation.

Materials for Article

Authors

clinical picture and methods of treatment

Until recently, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) was considered one of the varieties of anxiety disorders that are combined into a single etymological group based on a common symptom for them - a high level of anxiety in the patient. However, although OCD is often accompanied by anxiety, it cannot be said to be a factor in the development of the disease. Therefore, the latest version of the DSM-V Diagnostic Guidelines for Mental Illness classifies OCD as a special condition that is not included in the group of anxiety disorders. This means that the anxiety that accompanies OCD in some cases is not the core of the disease, although it remains one of its characteristic symptoms. nine0003

What then is OCD, and how has the approach to treating the disease changed?

Types of obsessive-compulsive disorder and differences in their clinical presentation

It should be noted that OCD is initially a heterogeneous disease: the obsessions that make up its clinical picture can manifest themselves both in the thoughts and in the actions of the patient. In one case, doubts attacking the patient's consciousness force him to perform repetitive actions (for example, constantly double-checking whether the door is locked, whether electrical appliances are turned off, etc.), which are of a ritual nature and are called " compulsions ". In the other, the patient is haunted by various obsessive memories, visual images and representations, which are involuntary fantasies, fears about the unfavorable development of certain events. These representations are by no means hallucinations, but have a strong effect on the daily life of the OCD sufferer, taking up the lion's share of his attention, mental activity, and resulting vitality. Burdened with obsessive thoughts, a person is not able to concentrate on daily activities, freely surrender to his hobbies or communicate with friends. nine0003

Modern psychiatric science is trying in many ways to explain the phenomenon of the development of OCD.

Ultimately, his personal and professional life suffers, the person seeks self-isolation, which brings only temporary and insignificant relief, without freeing the OCD patient from obsessions.

This development inevitably contributes to the emergence of anxiety and depressive conditions that complicate the clinical picture of OCD. nine0003

Practice shows that, despite the long course of the disease (the vast majority of OCD sufferers seek professional help only a few years after the first episodes), there are proven treatment methods that in most cases allow patients to return to a full life, or at least teach to resist the paralyzing effect of obsessions.

Causes of OCD

Modern psychiatric science is trying in many ways to explain the phenomenon of the development of OCD. How is the mechanism of obsessions formed, what is it based on: neurological or psychological premises? And how do logical and emotional relationships intertwine in this or that case? Some of these questions are still the subject of debate. And the development and course of OCD is trying to explain several theoretical models at once, starting with the theory of information integration, which separates the concepts of actual and emotional memory and explains which parts of the brain are involved in the processing of information entering it, and ending with neuroanatomical hypotheses. nine0003

The most effective way to treat the type of obsessional neurosis in which compulsive actions dominate is the method of exposure.

However, none of these theoretical models has been supported by applied research data. Therefore, to insist on any of the theories of the development of OCD, alas, is not possible. And because it is ineffective to treat a suspected but unidentified cause, OCD therapy focuses primarily on the symptoms of the disease. After all, they complicate the daily life of the patient. nine0003

See also

Myths about diagnosing mental illness

Treatment options for obsessive-compulsive disorder

After all the uncertainties about the occurrence of obsessional neurosis, two approaches are clearly distinguished in its treatment, one of which is successfully used to eliminate compulsive actions, and the other to combat obsessive thoughts.

The most effective treatment for that type of obsessional neurosis in which compulsive acts dominate is exposure method . Its essence lies in the fact that the OCD patient consciously intensifies his obsessive reactions, bringing them almost to the point of absurdity. This gives him the opportunity to face the manifestation of irrational anxiety more closely and, thus, reduce its intensity. After that, it will be much easier for the psychotherapist to influence the original component of OCD, obsessive thoughts and urges.

However, the exposure method is less effective when it comes to the type of disease in which compulsions are practically not observed, and the leading role is played by obsessive ideas, images and fears. In this case, therapy focuses on the interaction of logical and emotional connections in the patient's life, teaches to trace and share them among themselves. This type of OCD is more difficult to treat. The task of therapy in this case will be to change the established way of thinking, the correlation between the logic of thinking and its emotional content. nine0259

The stress and depression that accompanies OCD makes it difficult for the patient to focus on dealing with the underlying thoughts and feelings.

As a rule, OCD patients are people with a high level of intelligence, and everything is in order with logic. The trap of the disease is that, relying on obvious logic, OCD patients ignore the emotional component of their disorder. Just as a person who is rapidly gaining weight does not notice changes in his own appearance from day to day, an OCD patient does not notice changes in the causal relationships that are formed at the level of his logical and emotional reactions. That is why his fears and doubts seem to him groundless, but he is not able to get rid of them by an effort of will. nine0003

Medication for OCD

Medications in the treatment of OCD are used solely to address psychological symptoms that interfere with cognitive behavioral therapy. The stress and depression that accompanies OCD makes it difficult for the patient to focus on dealing with the underlying thoughts and feelings. Therefore, OCD patients are prescribed sedatives, antidepressants, and drugs known as serotonin reuptake inhibitors. nine0003

See also

First aid for anxiety attacks

Serotonin is one of the enzymes that is produced in the brain. It is the so-called neurotransmitter - a substance through which information is transmitted at the cellular level. Studies show that psychiatric and neurological disorders are often accompanied by sharp fluctuations in serotonin levels - and these fluctuations are especially pronounced in OCD. nine0003

By themselves, medications are a crude tool in the treatment of any mental disorder, but when used correctly, they provide the necessary support for psychotherapy.

Despite the optimistic treatment forecasts, obsessive-compulsive disorder is a dangerous disease that subjugates almost the entire life of the patient.