Germaphobe is the popular name for people who become obsessed with germs and dirt and feel compelled to act out rituals of washing and cleaning. True germaphobes have OCD. OCD is believed to be caused by an abnormality in the brain's circuitry.
Brain scans show brain activity is different in people with OCD. There's probably a genetic component as well, especially when OCD begins in childhood. One-third to one-half of adults with OCD say their illness started in childhood or adolescence.
The most effective treatment combines medication, usually one of several antidepressants, and a form of cognitive behavioral therapy called "response prevention" or "exposure and response therapy."
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Hello roses,
Germaphobe is the popular name for people who become obsessed with germs and dirt and feel compelled to act out rituals of washing and cleaning. True germaphobes have OCD. OCD is believed to be caused by an abnormality in the brain's circuitry.
Brain scans show brain activity is different in people with OCD. There's probably a genetic component as well, especially when OCD begins in childhood. One-third to one-half of adults with OCD say their illness started in childhood or adolescence.
The most effective treatment combines medication, usually one of several antidepressants, and a form of cognitive behavioral therapy called "response prevention" or "exposure and response therapy."
Maryann
September 24, 2012 - 5:30pmThis Comment
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