Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a disease in which a person has uncontrollable obsessions and compulsions, which causes difficulties in school or social life. Obsessive compulsive disorder is a representative brain dysfunction, and treatment includes pharmacological treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy, and non-pharmacological treatment.

What is obsessive-compulsive disorder?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder or obsessive compulsive disorder is a disease in which a person has obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors, resulting in great pain and difficulty in social life, such as school or work. Obsessive-compulsive disorder usually affects 2-3 out of 100 people, with the male-to-female ratio being similar. It can start at any age, but it often occurs around age 10 or between late teens and early adulthood, and it tends to occur earlier in men than in women.

Causes of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Studies have shown that obsessive compulsive disorder runs in families, and genetic factors play a role in its development. It is estimated that genetic factors have a greater influence, especially if the disease develops in childhood.

Symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

1) Obsession

Obsession is when certain thoughts, images, or impulses occur repeatedly and you feel like you have no control over them. I want to stop thinking about it, but it doesn't work out the way I want and it interferes with my daily life. Most patients recognize that this idea is illogical. Typically, obsessions are accompanied by intense and uncomfortable emotions such as fear, disgust, uncertainty, doubt, or a feeling that things must be done ‘just right’.

Recently, the term ‘obsessive’ is often used when one is preoccupied with a topic, idea, or person in daily life. But being obsessive doesn't mean there's something wrong with your routine. For example, even if you are obsessively obsessed with your favorite singer's song or the latest cell phone, you can still meet friends for dinner and go to work without any problems. Also, people sometimes worry about the safety of their loved ones and worry that they have made a big mistake. This is also similar to obsession, but people without OCD think about this for a while and then go back to what they were doing and do it again. You can. In other words, most people have unwanted intrusive thoughts from time to time, but obsessive compulsive disorder is different in that these intrusive thoughts occur frequently and cause extreme anxiety to the point that they interfere with daily life.

2) Compulsive behavior

Compulsions are repeated actions to reduce or eliminate the pain and anxiety caused by obsessions, or actions (and sometimes thoughts) to avoid situations that trigger obsessions. People with OCD know that this is only a temporary solution, but they resort to compulsions because they feel they have no better way to cope. For example, if anxiety increases due to obsessions about being dirty, you may wash your hands repeatedly or use sanitizer, and avoid places or situations that make you feel even the slightest bit dirty.

However, not all insistence on or repetition of a specific behavior is a compulsive behavior. People have their own habits, such as closing the door and checking the faucet before going to bed. The same activities are repeated when learning new skills. Typically, these repetitive behaviors are positive and functional. A librarian's insistence on particular details or preference for neat organization when organizing books may reflect obsessive compulsive personality traits, but this is not necessarily a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Most OCD patients cannot help but engage in compulsive behavior, they spend a lot of time performing the compulsive behavior, and if they are unable to perform the compulsive behavior, they become very distressed and anxious. It involves repeating certain behaviors not to gain pleasure, but to prevent negative consequences or to avoid and reduce anxiety and obsessions.

[Medical Times = Reporter Inbok Lee] Research results have shown that psilocybin, a mushroom extract compound that is attracting attention as a new depression treatment strategy, shows efficacy and safety that are comparable to those of standard antidepressants.

This is the first time that the long-term treatment effect of psilocybin has been demonstrated, and it is expected to have a significant impact on future depression treatment strategies.

On the 15th local time, the Journal of Psychopharmacology published the results of a long-term follow-up study on the effects of psilocybin on severe depression (doi.org/10.1177/02698811211073759).

Psilocybin Therapy is an extract of hallucinogenic mushrooms and is reported to cause perception and mood changes by suppressing the firing of serotonin-dependent neurons.

However, it is also true that it is emerging as a new depression treatment strategy as basic research shows that this perception effect can be effective in treating terminal cancer, depression, or anxiety. However, most of them were retrospective studies, and it was difficult to find any basic research that could provide evidence for them.

This is why a research team led by Professor Natalie Gukasyan of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine set out to investigate this. The purpose is to determine whether psilocybin can actually be used as a treatment strategy as well as existing antidepressants.

Accordingly, the researchers recruited 27 participants who had suffered from long-term depression, provided them with psilocybin for up to 24 months, and observed the effects.

After administering psilocybin twice at two-week intervals from 2017 to 2019, the degree of improvement in depression was determined every week. This is through the GRID-Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, a standard depression assessment tool.

A grid score of 24 or more is considered severe depression, 17 to 23 points is moderate depression, 8 to 16 points is mild depression, and 7 points or less is not depression.

As a result of psilocybin administration, patients whose depression did not improve even with standard antidepressant therapy in the past and whose grid score reached an average of 22.8 points rapidly improved, dropping to 8.7 points in the first week of treatment.

In addition, after recording 8.9 points in the 4th week, the score was 7 points in the 6th month, showing virtually complete improvement in depression.

These effects lasted for a long time. This is because the grid score was maintained at 7.7 points in the survey 12 months later. In a comprehensive analysis, the response rate after 12 months was 75% and the complete remission rate was 58%.

The researchers explain that these results show that psilocybin is in no way less effective than standard antidepressant therapy in the past, and rather is a sufficient alternative that can continue treatment without side effects for a long time.

Professor Natalie said, "This study showed that psilocybin can be a very effective alternative to depression as it not only has immediate effects but also lasts for a very long time," adding, "Compared to standard antidepressants that have to be taken for a long period of time and have side effects controlled, it can be administered once or twice. “It is superior in that it can continuously relieve symptoms of depression even with treatment,” he explained.

He continued, "If we prove through future research that this effect lasts for more than 12 months, it will be a groundbreaking turning point in the treatment of depression in the future."

What is an eating disorder?

Eating disorders are also called eating disorders, eating disorders, or eating disorders. It is a disease characterized by an abnormal obsession with extreme dieting, such as an excessive fear of weight gain, a strong desire to have a thin body, and inappropriate weight control practices such as continuous starvation or taking diet pills or laxatives. It is also characterized by disorders in eating behavior that are mainly triggered by excessive dieting, such as irregular eating habits, binge eating, loss of control over food, excessive obsession with food, and refusal to eat food despite being undernourished. Eating disorders can be broadly divided into anorexia and bulimia.

Symptoms of Eating Disorders

anorexia

The official psychiatric name for anorexia is anorexia nervosa. The biggest characteristic is extreme refusal of food, resulting in a loss of more than 15% of normal weight. Women with this disease have an extreme fear of gaining weight or becoming obese, so they constantly try to lose weight even though they are underweight. In extreme cases, weight loss can reach 30-40% of normal body weight (e.g., 160 cm in height and 30 kg in weight). When this level is reached, it is very dangerous to physical health and requires hospitalization.

behavioral symptoms

- Place restrictions on eating behavior, such as strict dieting, fasting, or fasting.

- Count food into pieces or cut food into small pieces before eating.

- I often cook food for others and do not eat it myself.

- I am concerned about gaining too much weight despite my low body weight.

- Great fear of food.

- I have a fear of eating in public places.

- I am concerned about gaining too much weight while trying to lose weight.

- Wear loose-fitting clothes to hide excessive weight loss.

- Binge eating.

- Vomiting or habitually taking drugs such as laxatives, diuretics, or diet foods to control weight.

- Weigh yourself too frequently, several times a day.

- Excessive obsession with food ingredients and calories.

physical symptoms

- Weight decreased significantly over a short period of time.

- Menstruation has become irregular or stopped without any particular cause.

- The face is pale.

- I became sensitive to the cold.

- I feel dizzy and fall easily.

- A lot of hair falls out.

- have a headache.

- Feeling tired easily.

psychological symptoms

- Severe mood changes.

- Shows a perfectionistic attitude.

- There is an excessive sense of inferiority and anxiety about one's own abilities.

- Your sense of self-worth is affected by what food you eat or not eat.

- I try not to meet people often.

- Denies current underweight.

- Place excessive emphasis on weight or body shape when evaluating oneself.

Bulimia

The full psychiatric name is bulimia nervosa. The biggest characteristic is the loss of eating control, eating large amounts of food at a rapid rate and not being able to stop eating even when you are full. After binge eating, people fear the consequences of weight gain, so they vomit, take laxatives or diuretics, or repeat intense exercise and dieting. The incidence ratio between men and women suffering from binge eating is 1:15, with the overwhelming majority being women.

Albert Hoffmann, who worked at the Swiss pharmaceutical company Sandoz, was looking for a drug that promoted blood circulation. Then, in 1938, he developed a synthetic substance called Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, which did not have much of the therapeutic effect he had hoped for. However, about five years later, he accidentally discovered the extraordinary efficacy of this synthetic substance. Hoffman, who “accidentally ingested a small amount one day” of the neglected product, “realized that he had created something powerful, and he was both horrified and amazed.”

In Central America, wild Psychedelic mushrooms grow, which the Aztecs called ‘Teonanacatl.’ It means ‘Flesh of the Gods.’ They had “ceremonial use” of “this inconspicuous little brown mushroom.” The Spanish Catholics who conquered this place in the 16th century banned ‘magic mushrooms’, so it took about 400 years for them to become known to the world. “In 1955, Gordon Watson, a Manhattan banker and amateur mycologist, tasted these magic mushrooms in a village in southern Mexico.” Two years later, he published a 15-page account of his experience in the weekly magazine ‘Life’, informing the world of “mushrooms that cause strange illusions.” The substance extracted from this mushroom is called ‘Psilocybin.’

Michael Pollan (66), an American nonfiction writer and journalist, unexpectedly published a book about LSD and psilocybin. The original book was published in the United States in 2018. Pollan is considered a very well-known author in Korea through books such as “The Omnivore’s Dilemma,” “The Desiring Plant,” and “Second Nature.” He has dealt with a variety of subjects such as nature, gardens, plants, and food. However, the fact that he devoted his writerly attention to drugs that were considered ‘narcotics’ or ‘hallucinogens’ is quite unusual. In his book, he refers to LSD and psilocybin collectively as ‘psychedelics.’ I do not agree with the term ‘hallucinogen’. He explains, “The word ‘psychedelic,’ coined in 1956, is etymologically accurate,” adding, “This word, taken from Greek, means ‘Mind Manifesting.’”

As he confesses, the author is not part of the ‘psychedelic generation.’ He was born in 1955 and entered college in the 1970s, so he admits that he spent his youth “in an era when fear-mongering stories about LSD were rampant.” In his late 20s, he confessed that “the only psychedelic experience I had was two or three times using magic mushrooms,” and that “after enduring nausea for a while, I enjoyed four or five hours of hallucinations that were like a nice italicized version of a familiar reality.” . Of course, it was the ‘timid experience’ of an ordinary young man. Rather than “an experience of complete dissolution of the self,” it was “just a low-volume aesthetic experience.”

The author, who believed that “matter is the fundamental element of the world and that everything can be explained by physical laws,” confesses that it was only when he was approaching 60 that he “seriously thought about trying LSD for the first time.” Of course, there are many reasons for this. One day at a dinner party, a woman sitting at the end of the table was telling her audience about her acid trip (her hallucinatory experience) and said, “My husband and I do LSD regularly to keep her intellectually stimulated. “It helps our work quite a bit,” she said. “It turned out that she was a renowned psychologist.” Of course, what prompted the author to further open his mind to psychedelics was a paper by a research team at Johns Hopkins University. “I was completely fascinated by the paper. “Their study demonstrated that high doses of psilocybin can be safely and reliably used to produce mystical experiences.”

The book describes the history of psychedelics, various controversies, and the medical benefits that have been emerging one after another from various angles. The content and results of research conducted at not only Johns Hopkins, but also Imperial College London, UC Berkeley, and Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine are introduced. Researchers and therapists are also interviewed. However, the most interesting point is the author’s actual experience of “turning the handle and stepping inside.” Although the book appears to be an objective document about psychedelics, the author's experiences and thoughts unfold as expressions such as ‘I,’ ‘in my opinion,’ and ‘from what I have experienced’ appear frequently. He also describes the “overwhelming hallucinations” and “completely open dream-like state” he experienced.

According to the authors, “Most of the notorious hazards are exaggerated or untrue. It is virtually impossible to die from an overdose of LSD or psilocybin, and neither drug is addictive.” Rather, she “treats depression and addiction” and “offers true insight” through “expansion of consciousness.” It could also “improve healthy people” as a kind of “mental gym”. Of course, the author emphasizes that this insight or improvement does not come from the drug itself, but “comes from our mind.” “Psychedelics just opened the door.”

At the end of the book, the author says, “I sincerely hope that psychedelics will one day be more widely available and not limited to sick people.” But there is a clue. “It’s not that I just want it to be legalized,” he said, pointing out, “It’s also true that people who use psychedelics tend to do stupid and dangerous things.” This is a warning against a so-called ‘bad trip’. This is also the reason why “careful clinical screening” and “assistance from experienced guides” are mentioned. The author defines this book as “the story of the renaissance of LSD and psilocybin.”

The most commonly identified forms of migraine are migraine with aura and migraine without aura. Of these, the most common form is migraine without aura, occurring in 75% of cases.

A typical migraine attack develops in 4 stages of migraine:

the first stage is prodromal, occurs in 77% of migraine sufferers, includes a number of symptoms that occur 24-48 hours immediately before the onset of aura and headache, such as: increased yawning, irritability, stiffness in the cervical spine;

the second stage - migraine aura, occurs in 25%, includes the gradual development of completely reversible, usually within an hour, neurological symptoms (visual phenomena, sensory and motor disturbances in the limbs, and much more);

the third stage is the headache itself. Most often, this is a one-sided pain, pressing or throbbing in nature, with a tendency to intensify from ordinary physical activity, such as brisk walking, climbing stairs. Often accompanied by nausea or vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound. If the patient does not take pain medication, the headache attack lasts at least 4 hours;

fourth stage - postdromal period: after the end of the headache attack, patients may notice general weakness, and sudden movements of the head may cause temporary pain at the site of the previous pain.

Diagnostics

To make a diagnosis, as a rule, instrumental or laboratory tests are not required. The diagnosis is based on a history, neurological examination and compliance of complaints with the diagnostic criteria of the disease.

However, in case of an atypical course or the presence of so-called “red flags”, your doctor may prescribe additional examination.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder, in other words obsessive-compulsive disorder, occurs after depression, prolonged drug use and specific phobias. This disease can occur at different periods of life in 2% of the population.

Experts from the University of Oxford suggested that since psilocybin and ocd has already been proven effective in treating depression and anxiety, it may also be useful in treating OCD.

In particular, it could be used to interrupt repetitive thoughts and actions in patients. In order to understand whether this is so, they conducted a meta-analysis of studies on this topic, says New Atlas.

Among a number of studies that do not meet modern scientific principles, they found several substantiated hypotheses explaining the benefits of adrenaline in the treatment of OCD. One of them, for example, concerned several interconnected regions of the brain - the so-called passive mode network of the brain (SPRM), which is activated in humans at rest. Its functioning is associated with rumination and daydreaming, and its dysfunction is associated with depression and anxiety.

Psilocybin appears to serve as a kind of reset button for the malfunctioning SRM that is seen in patients with OCD. Experiments have shown that one dose of the substance can temporarily disrupt the functioning of this neural network if it begins to malfunction.

And in a 2006 study, patients with moderate to severe OCD were given a dose of psilocybin every seven days for three weeks. All of them experienced temporary relief within 24 hours of taking the drug. Long-term effects were also noted, although to a lesser extent.

However, despite evidence of the psychedelic's effectiveness in the treatment of OCD and other disorders, the process of legalizing it as a medical drug is just beginning. Political and social norms impede research, and the inability to generate much profit from the sale of this natural substance, which is not subject to patents, deprives scientists of funding from pharmaceutical companies.

However, the decriminalization of psychedelics has already begun in some places. In November, residents of the US state of Oregon will hold the world's first referendum on the legalization of psychedelics. If the decision is positive, mushrooms that cause hallucinations can be grown in special institutions and taken in clinics under the supervision of doctors.

lung cancer final weeks

 patients are usually faced with the unpleasant perception of symptoms and complications associated with the disease. This stage of the disease may cause major physical and mental changes in patients. In the following, we will mention some common signs and symptoms in the final weeks of lung cancer.

Weakness and fatigue: Patients may feel very tired and generally weak. This is usually due to nutritional deficiencies, decreased lung function, and the disease's effect on the immune system.

Respiratory problems: Lung cancer can cause breathing problems. In the final weeks, patients may experience shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, severe coughing, bleeding from the lungs, or a feeling of suffocation.

Pain: Pain in the chest and lung area is also a common complication in the final weeks of lung cancer. This pain may be chronic and intermittent and can be controlled using painkillers and drug treatments.

Severe loss of appetite: In the final weeks, patients may almost lose interest in food and suffer from a severe loss of appetite. This usually happens because of the complications of the disease and the side effects of the treatments they may be taking.

Dehydration: Patients may face problems related to maintaining and controlling water in the body in the final weeks. Dehydration can cause swelling in the limbs, fatigue and discomfort.

Mental and emotional changes: In the final weeks, patients may experience severe mental and emotional changes. This includes depression, anxiety, stress, anger, reluctance to socialize, or mental fatigue.

Palliative care: In the final weeks, palliative care may be considered to improve the patient's quality of life. This includes providing pain relievers to reduce pain, supportive care to help with breathing, nutritional care to maintain nutritional status, and psychosocial support to help cope with mental and emotional changes.

It is important to know that each person and each disease situation is unique and symptoms and complications may be different for each person. In case of any worrisome symptoms or complications, it is important to consult your doctor so that he can give you the necessary guidance and prescribe the appropriate care.

Halodoc, Jakarta - Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disorder of irrational thought patterns and fears (obsessions) that make the sufferer perform repetitive behaviors (compulsions). These obsessions and compulsions can interfere with activities and trigger stress.

When people with OCD try to ignore or stop their obsessions, it makes them feel distressed and anxious. Ultimately, OCD sufferers feel compelled to act compulsively to relieve stress. Despite trying to ignore the disturbing thoughts, the sufferer will do the same thing again.

Also Read: Can Past Trauma Really Cause OCD?

Symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

People with OCD may not realize that their obsessions and compulsions are excessive and irrational. Although the obsession and compulsion takes a lot of time and disrupts the routine and even the social function of the sufferer.

Obsessions are repetitive, intrusive thoughts, and urges that cause distress or anxiety. This obsession interferes when the sufferer tries to think or do other things. Examples of obsessive behavior in OCD sufferers:

Fear of dirt.

Need things that are orderly and symmetrical.

Aggressive or fearful thoughts about hurting yourself or others.

Unwanted thoughts, including aggression or sexual subjects.

While compulsion is repetitive behavior that is excessive and often unrealistic. Here are some examples of compulsive behavior:

Wash or clean.

Checking.

Calculation.

Order.

Follow a strict routine.

Demand a guarantee.

ocd therapy

There is treatment or treatment to relieve OCD sufferers, namely psychological therapy and drugs. One of the psychological therapies that can be done is a type of therapy to help deal with fear and obsessive thoughts without overcoming compulsions. In addition to therapy, antidepressants can help balance chemicals in the brain.

Psychological Therapy

A suitable therapy for OCD sufferers is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure and response prevention (ERP). Therapists help sufferers solve problems and deal with obsessive or compulsive behaviors. Therapy begins with mild situations before moving on to more difficult situations. People with mild OCD usually need about 10 hours of therapy combined with home exercises. In severe cases of OCD, the sufferer may need longer therapy.

Drug Consumption

It is done if psychological therapy is not successful in overcoming OCD. The drugs that are often used are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). This drug helps relieve OCD symptoms by increasing levels of a chemical called serotonin in the brain. This medicine needs to be taken for 12 weeks to see the effect. Most people need treatment for at least a year until they are declared cured.

Psilocybin, a naturally occurring substance found in magic mushrooms or master mushrooms, is a chemical compound that has strong psychoactive effects. Some research has shown that taking psilocybin in some people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can significantly improve its signs and symptoms. These studies have shown that psilocybin, as a psychoactive substance, can help control OCD symptoms and in some cases can even reduce repetitive and compulsive behaviors. However, before using psilocybin or any other substance, be sure to check with your doctor to make sure it is the right and safe way to treat your OCD.

OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) is a mental disorder that is associated with irrational repetition of thoughts and worries (obsessions) and performing repetitive and compulsive actions (compulsions). This disorder can affect people's daily life and severely reduce the quality of life. Research has shown that psilocybin, a chemical compound found in chanterelle mushrooms, may be effective in improving OCD symptoms.

Psilocybin is a complex compound that, upon entering the brain, causes strong psychoactive effects with rapid action. This compound in the brain quickly goes to the precursor of serotonin (5-HT2A) and by interacting with it, it creates changes in different neural networks.

Research conducted on the effects of psilocybin and ocd shows that this compound can be effective as a psychoactive agent in improving the signs and symptoms of OCD. One study of people with OCD found that taking a single session of psilocybin under the supervision of a doctor may lead to significant improvement in OCD symptoms. Other research has also shown that psilocybin can affect brain function and alter abnormal activity patterns in neural networks associated with OCD.

Among the effects of psilocybin in improving OCD symptoms are:

1. Reducing the intensity of obsessions and compulsions: taking psilocybin may reduce the intensity and recurrence of obsessions and compulsions.

2. Increase mental flexibility: Psilocybin can help people to effectively disengage from their obsessive thoughts and encourage the mind to be more flexible in the face of these thoughts.

3. Experience more reality: with the effect of psilocybin, people may have deeper experiences of reality that can cause a change in attitude to ephedra. In addition to the positive effects, it should be noted that the use of psilocybin may also be accompanied by side effects such as anxiety, exacerbation of obsessions. , mood changes and unpleasant experiences such as hallucinations or false experiences.

Also, psilocybin consumption should be done under the supervision and guidance of professionals and in a safe and controlled environment. This compound is not legal in many countries and its use without legal authorization may cause legal problems.

Therefore, before using psilocybin or any other substance to treat OCD, be sure to consult your doctor and it is better to consider other treatment strategies such as psychotherapy or medications prescribed by the doctor. Also, things like your medical history, medications, and your physical and mental condition should also be taken into consideration in making a decision.

The important thing is that most of the positive changes that occur after well-planned psilocybin therapy by a psychotherapist occur after the session. And during the session, a person just feels all the usual attributes of a trip, such as hallucinations, changes in the nature of the flow of thoughts, changes in attitude. Again, these feelings are not the end goal of therapy, but its side effect, as if we were considering top nootropics for the long term. Therefore, taking psilocybin for the sake of glitches is like accelerating a plane so that the engine roars louder.

An important point that will be repeated several times in the text: just because something causes a boost in neuroplasticity, this does not mean that a person will have a positive effect. And this is not necessarily evidence that the therapy was successful. For neuroplasticity to have a therapeutic effect of psilocybin in addiction, it must help a person become more adaptive, develop skills or feelings that will help him function more effectively in life.

The material also touches on the topic of how the conditions of a psilocybin trip affect a person. How does the condition change if therapy is carried out with closed or open eyes, do phases with closed and open eyes alternate, and does music play during the procedure? Moreover, depending on what kind of music was played during the procedure, how a person will feel a few days, weeks and months after a course of psilocybin therapy depends. Which already offers effectiveness at the level of what CBT psychology offers.

The dosage, types of psilocybin and the number of psilocybin sessions are also important. Even one psilocybin trip can improve your mood in the long term. But most clinical studies use two doses, very precisely spaced apart. And all the auxiliary factors: closed/open eyes, music and the work of the sitter are extremely important.

So whether you are interested in participating in or setting up a clinical trial using psilocybin, or are interested in psilocybin for other reasons, this information is critical to understand.

Disclaimer 2: At the time of writing and publication of this material, in 2023, psilocybin is still a banned substance in most countries of the world. Unless, in the state of Oregon, psilocybin was approved for therapeutic use for certain diseases: namely, to get rid of depression and several forms of addiction. So in Oregon it is more or less decriminalized, but not legal. But in general, psilocybin and other psychedelics are still considered illegal. Possession and sale of psilocybin is punishable by law. Do not use psilocybin without government approval or in violation of the law.

The reason for writing/translating the material is that I believe that with this knowledge, you will be able to draw your own conclusions about what psilocybin mushrooms are and what role they can play in human life.