Talk:Obsessive–compulsive disorder

Inaccurate history of OCD is presented
The article neglects to mention that the first clinical description of OCD was by Abu Zayd al-Balkhi in the 9th century work Sustenance of the Body and Soul.

For details, see "Obsessional Disorders in al-Balkhi′s 9th century treatise: Sustenance of the Body and Soul" published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, Volume 180, 15 July 2015, Pages 185-189.

I am including the abstract below:

Morbid fears and phobias have been mentioned in religious, philosophical and medical manuscripts since ancient times. Despite early insights by the Greeks, phobias did not appear as a separate clinical phenomenon in Western medicine until the 17th century and has evolved substantially since. However, robust investigations attempting to decipher the clinical nature of phobias emerged in pre-modern times during the oft-overlooked Islamic Golden Era (9th–12th centuries); which overlapped with Europe’s medieval period. An innovative attempt was made by the 9th century Muslim scholar, Abu Zayd al-Balkhi, in his medical manuscript “Sustenance of the Body and Soul,” to define phobias as a separate diagnostic entity. Al-Balkhi was one of the earliest to cluster psychological and physical symptoms of phobias under one category, “al-Fazaá”, and outline a specific management plan. We analyze al-Balkhi’s description of phobias, according to the modern understanding of psychiatric classifications and symptomatology as described in the DSM-5.

Image perpetuating OCD stereotype?
I noticed that the main image for this article is a picture of a person washing their hands. Doesn't this just perpetuate the myth that all people with OCD have obsessions with germs? Don't get me wrong, I realize that many people with OCD do have obsessions and compulsions having to do with germs, but it seems that is one of the most common stereotypes of people with OCD, and I believe the image is only perpetuating the stereotype. I must admit that I don't have any idea of what to change it to, sorry. Should the image be changed, and if so, any idea what it should be changed to? Thanks! JohnLaurensAnthonyRamos333 (correct me if I'm wrong) 08:37, 14 January 2024 (UTC)


 * To be clear: I understand that the photo's caption says that only some people with OCD struggle with compulsory hand washing, but I still feel that the image is adding to the stereotype.
 * JohnLaurensAnthonyRamos333 (correct me if I'm wrong) 08:39, 14 January 2024 (UTC)
 * I am also in favor of changing the image. Indeed, "contamination" obsessions are common and do account for how OCD symptoms can sometimes manifest in patients, however, this is overrepresented in movies, tv shows, and news media and is a stereotype. In other contexts it doesn't matter as much, but Wikipedia is primarily an informative resource and may be a first stop for those who think they may have OCD symptoms. With an average time between symptom onset and diagnosis being 17 years, we should do more to inform people that OCD can take on many forms beyond just handwashing. The article text covers this, but not all visitors will read it in its entirety, and the image should do its best to reflect the text as it is the first thing a visitor sees.
 * Perhaps one possible solution would be to show 3-4 images (in a manner similar to other pages, such as World War II) showing various OCD symptoms, of which one is the handwashing picture shown in the current article. That would keep that image present, but in the context of other common manifestations of symptoms. Tjprins (talk) 16:06, 19 January 2024 (UTC)
 * Which others might you suggest? Thanks. Martinevans123 (talk) 16:09, 19 January 2024 (UTC)
 * I also agree that it would be a good idea to find a different picture to depict OCD as this is a stereotype. I like the idea of having a small collage of 3-4 images together to show there are different symptoms (obsessions and compulsions). AriW01 (talk) 02:59, 25 January 2024 (UTC)
 * I have ocd and I think that would be a really good idea! A lot of people assume ocd is hand washing and organizing. Maybe show a photo that depicts some kind of depression/anxiety as a way to show the 'O', obessions, in OCD. That ultimately, I have found, is considerably more disturbing than repetitive handwashing. Just a thought :) Sherlocke (talk) 19:59, 3 March 2024 (UTC)
 * Some ideas for photos could include:
 * - someone driving (fears of hurting people while driving is common in ocd, and can show how ocd can disrupt day to day life)
 * - someone appearing anxious/depressed
 * - expiration dates on food, dirt on hands (maybe instead of handwashing)
 * - light switches
 * - picking nails Sherlocke (talk) 20:05, 3 March 2024 (UTC)

There should be a "see also" on this page
Suspicious this it is missing 84.65.147.100 (talk) 09:09, 11 March 2024 (UTC)

Changing Image Part 2
I know a few users discussed changing the images on the OCD page to better reflect this condition, and shy away from stereotyping. I drafted up a potential gallery to include after the 'Introduction' in my sandbox, and included two potential main images. I understand we discussed wanting to maybe do a gallery, but I was unable to edit the template to include more than two images. A gallery may be nice! Here is a link to my sandbox:https://w.wiki/9yhp If I get some approvals, I'll add this to the page. Sherlocke (talk) 21:41, 4 May 2024 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 7 June 2024
Please change “Risk Factors” from “Child Abuse and Stress” to “Genetics, Biology, Temperaments and Childhood Trauma”. Based on the source referenced: The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (January 2016). "What is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?". U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). Archived from the original on 23 July 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2016. Shepalovelace81 (talk) 11:21, 7 June 2024 (UTC)

✅ PianoDan (talk) 17:38, 19 June 2024 (UTC)

Why is it worded like that?
Why is the first line of the article worded like this?

"a mental and behavioral disorder in which (...)in which an individual has intrusive thoughts (an obsession) and feels the need to perform certain routines (compulsions) repeatedly to relieve the distress caused by the obsession"

OCD behaviours are not necessarily routines or rituals. And to put "compulsions" in parantheses afterwards seems to suggest that a compulsion, in this context, is synonymous with ritualistic behaviours.

I propose that the phrasing "feels the need to perform certain behaviours (compulsions) to relieve the distress caused by the obsession, often repeatedly" would be more accurate. There's nothing in the first section of this article that would tell me that compulsive behaviours can come in any form, and that they aren't always repetitive. Sjokolade1998 (talk) 15:17, 20 June 2024 (UTC)