Schizophrenia and obsessive compulsive disorder can go along together and could co-occur in a person that is presently suffering from OCD. It shouldn’t be far for someone having OCD to develop schizophrenia as his or her mental soundness is greatly affected to some extent, even to a greater level. Obsessions often lead to the creation of mental images and hallucinations even more if they are left untreated. They could become worse and could debilitate the condition of the person. In some worst cases, OCD patients are said to confuse themselves between reality and fantasy as their minds create hallucinations that are so real that they are forced to believe in them.
Schizophrenia and obsessive compulsive disorder affect both male and female on the same degree and level. Statistically speaking, they begin manifesting during the ages around early adolescent and adolescent stages. The development of an OCD in an individual might also entail, in most cases, the development of different types of schizophrenia, both mild and catatonic depending on the condition of the individual suffering from OCD or the circumstances he or she is into. While this is true, there is however no proven link between the two disorders’ symptoms. The discovery of new information regarding the similarities of the symptoms of both disorders makes it more difficult.
Obsessions versus Delusions
Since the symptoms are so similar, they tend to overlap. Making it harder for professionals to distinguish which symptoms belong to which disorder in a specific point in time.
A very important consideration to take note is that at times delusions are common manifestations of schizophrenia. They are instances wherein the mind produces false thoughts and that they can be very intrusive. Very much like of an obsession where in unwanted and intrusive thoughts infiltrate the mind of the individual suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder or OCD.
People experiencing irrational thoughts in the shape of obsessions may find it interesting that the kind or content of the obsessions in an OCD is quite different to a delusion. Obsessions tend to revolve around more on the ideas of symmetry, sexual and aggressive impulses or anything that is of related to what is around. Delusions, in most cases are greatly attributed in the belief system of an individual.
However, there are certain cases of obsessions that are not founded on the reality of things around him or her. They can be simply afloat and not grounded in any way to a present reality.
Gary Newman once had OCD schizophrenia. He never how to get rid of OCD until one day he discovered something on the web that changed his life forever. Now he is living as normal as anyone is, free from obsessive thoughts and compulsions.