Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Relationships: Understanding its signs, causes, and characteristics
Relationship Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (ROCD) is a form of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) that revolves around intrusive thoughts and doubts about romantic relationships. This condition can cause significant distress and uncertainty about relationship stability, partner's feelings, and faithfulness.
Common Symptoms of ROCD
Individuals experiencing ROCD often grapple with persistent doubts and uncertainties about their love or attraction towards a partner. Compulsive behaviors such as frequent reassurance-seeking or analyzing interactions may also be present to alleviate anxiety.
Causes of ROCD
The exact causes of ROCD are not yet fully understood, but several factors may contribute. These include a genetic predisposition, attachment issues from past relationship traumas or insecure attachment styles, and environmental factors such as stress and social pressures.
Treatment Methods for ROCD
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
CBT with ERP is a common treatment approach for ROCD. ERP involves exposure to feared thoughts or situations without engaging in compulsive behaviors, helping build tolerance to relationship uncertainty. This therapy has shown high efficacy in reducing symptoms with fewer side effects compared to medication.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy
EMDR therapy can help process past traumas that might contribute to ROCD symptoms. It reduces emotional sensitivity to relationship triggers and decreases attachment-related distress.
Medication
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) can help manage symptoms by reducing anxiety and obsessive thoughts. However, higher doses may be needed, and side effects are more common compared to CBT.
Additional Treatment Approaches
Specialized therapy with a therapist experienced in ERP and OCD, group therapy focusing on relationship dynamics, and various levels of treatment intensity based on symptom severity can also be beneficial.
Diagnosis and Recognition
For a doctor to make a diagnosis, a person with ROCD must recognize that their symptoms impede their ability to fully experience relationships. ROCD is not an official diagnosis in the DSM-5-TR but is diagnosed as a form of OCD.
If someone believes they are experiencing ROCD, speaking with a doctor to discuss their symptoms and receive a suitable diagnosis and treatment is essential.
Overlapping with OCD Treatments
Treatment for ROCD tends to overlap with OCD treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) approaches such as exposure therapy and cognitive restructuring.
Doctors may also prescribe antidepressant drugs such as SSRIs to treat OCD symptoms. Symptoms of ROCD may appear in early adulthood and affect later relationships.
Partner-Focused and Relationship-Centered Concerns
Relationship-centered OCD causes a person to doubt and worry about the perceived suitability of their relationship, while partner-focused OCD causes a person to worry about the suitability of their partner in terms of six domains: appearance, intelligence, social skills, morals, emotions, and reliability. These concerns can happen simultaneously, occur before the other form, or reinforce the other form.
Therapy Techniques
Therapists may also employ experiential techniques in therapy, which are imagination-based exposures to help explore and challenge beliefs and views, and reduce compulsive behaviors. They may also assess and gather information to determine when and why a person's symptoms occur, and help create effective management strategies and relapse prevention plans.
Historical Perspective
The symptoms of ROCD may date back to the first time a person faced an important romantic decision, such as getting married or having a child. Researchers have assessed partner-focused symptoms with the partner-related obsessive-compulsive symptoms inventory, which measures symptoms of anxiety, depression, stress, and relationship quality.
In a 2016 study, researchers assessed people with relationship-centered and partner-focused symptoms using a structured interview according to the DSM-5-TR. A certain trigger or past event may lead to a person distrusting their relationship or partner in ROCD.
In conclusion, understanding and addressing ROCD is crucial for individuals experiencing relationship doubts and anxieties. Seeking professional help and learning about available treatment options can lead to improved relationships and overall well-being.
- The therapy technique called experiential techniques in therapy can be used to explore and challenge beliefs and views about relationships in individuals with Relationship Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (ROCD), helping to reduce compulsive behaviors.
- Approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy, and medication like Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) can all be beneficial in managing symptoms of ROCD, a form of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) related to doubts and uncertainties about romantic relationships.
- Past traumas or insecure attachment styles, stress, and social pressures are possible contributing factors to the development of ROCD, a condition that may affect mental health, lifestyle, and the overall health-and-wellness of individuals, causing distress about relationship stability, partner's feelings, and faithfulness.
