Contamination OCD Treatment

What Is Contamination OCD?

Contamination OCD involves an excessive and irrational fear of coming into contact with bodily fluids, dirt, germs, disease, or other substances that might cause harm. This fear often leads to compulsive behaviors like excessive handwashing, cleaning, and avoiding situations that might lead to exposure to perceived contaminants.

Symptoms of Contamination OCD

The main symptoms of contamination OCD include obsessions and compulsions.

Common obsessions include:

• Fear of getting sick or getting others sick.
• Being contaminated or having contaminated belongings.
• Feeling dirty or disgusting.

Common compulsions include:

• Using barriers (e.g., cloths or gloves) to open cabinets, doors, drawers, etc.
• Refusing to sit where others have sat.
• Refusing to touch things that others have touched.
• Excessive cleaning, sterilizing, and decontaminating rituals.
• Excessive washing and rewashing of self (e.g., hands, hair, body).
• Changing clothes.
• Having designated “clean” spaces and items others are not allowed to touch or access.
• Avoiding activities that may lead to contamination (e.g., blowing nose, flossing, attending medical appointments, sharing items).
• Taking longer routes to avoid places perceived to be contaminated or unclean.

Causes of Contamination OCD

While the exact cause of contamination obsessive-compulsive disorder is unknown, research suggests it is likely a combination of genetic, biological, psychological, and environmental factors.

Genetic Factors

If you have a family history of personality disorders, you have a higher risk of developing contamination OCD.

Biological Factors

Certain brain abnormalities, like an underdeveloped prefrontal cortex, may play a role in contamination OCD. The prefrontal cortex is key for decision-making, impulse control, and emotional regulation.

Psychological Factors

• A strong aversion to disgust.
• An inability to tolerate uncertainty.
• A belief that thoughts can cause negative consequences.
• A belief that things are dirty or impure, even when they are not contaminated.
• A strong desire for everything to be clean and sterile.
• An inability to discern when there is no real threat of contamination.
• Having another mental health condition like anxiety or depression.

Environmental Factors

Stressful life events and trauma can increase your risk of developing contamination OCD.

• Divorce, loss of a loved one, school difficulties, etc.
• Physical or emotional abuse or neglect.
• Uncertain situations causing a sense of vulnerability or loss of control.
• Chronic stress.

Infectious Disease or Illness

Research suggests certain bacteria and pathogens may be linked to contamination OCD symptoms. They include:

• Streptococcal infections.
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
• Herpes simplex virus 1.
• Borna disease virus.
• Group A-Beta Hemolytic streptococcus.
• Toxoplasma gondii.
• Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Diagnosis of Contamination OCD

Are you or a loved one struggling with one or more OCD symptoms? A Beach House Center for Recovery licensed therapist can help you make a formal diagnosis and provide effective contamination OCD treatment.

Diagnostic Criteria for Contamination OCD

Contamination OCD is a subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). To receive a formal OCD diagnosis, individuals must meet the following criteria:

• Obsessions, compulsions, or both
  • Obsessions: recurrent, persistent, and unwanted thoughts, urges, or images that cause significant distress or anxiety.
  • Compulsions: Repetitive behaviors or mental acts to reduce anxiety or prevent a feared outcome.
• Significant impact on daily functioning
  The obsessions and compulsions are time-consuming (e.g., more than one hour per day) or interfere with work, relationships, or other important activities.
• Not caused by other factors
  The symptoms cannot be due to substances, medical conditions, or another mental health disorder (e.g., anxiety or body dysmorphic disorder).

Contamination OCD focuses on fears related to germs, bacteria, or illness, often resulting in excessive cleaning or avoiding sources of perceived contamination. However, a formal contamination OCD diagnosis is based on the general OCD criteria noted above.

Contamination OCD Assessment and Tools

The Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) is the most widely used tool to assess contamination OCD. Additional assessment tools may include:

• Clinical Interview
  This one-on-one interview with a licensed therapist includes a detailed symptom exploration and assessment of how they impact daily functioning, social interactions, and overall quality of life.
• Self-Report Questionnaires (to assess symptom severity)
  • Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (DOCS)
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (OCI)
  • Vancouver Obsessional Compulsive Inventory (VOCI)

Treatment Options for Contamination OCD

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)

Exposure and Response Prevention is a key technique used in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help you learn that anxiety naturally subsides without engaging in compulsive rituals. The goal of ERP is to reduce the negative impacts of OCD symptoms.

In ERP, you are gradually exposed to situations that trigger contamination fears while resisting the urge to perform compulsive responses. This process helps reduce the overall severity of OCD symptoms over time.

Medication for Contamination OCD

There are no medications that specifically treat contamination OCD.

However, antianxiety and mood stabilizing medications may be used along with CBT and ERP to help manage your symptoms. Your Beach House Center for Recovery therapist will prescribe medicines based on your unique needs, symptoms, and severity.

Personalized Care for Contamination OCD at Beach House Center for Recovery

Our licensed therapists provide compassionate mental health and contamination OCD treatment to help you overcome disruptive symptoms and improve your overall quality of life.

Our skilled team is ready to help you manage your personality disorder symptoms and support any co-occurring conditions. Contact our caring admissions counselors for more information and to start your recovery journey.