Key takeaways:
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and addiction often go together.
Both OCD and addiction involve compulsive behaviors, but they look different in each condition. OCD and addiction are distinct disorders.
Having OCD increases a person’s risk of addiction or substance use disorder. Certain substances and medications can also cause or worsen OCD symptoms.
Addiction and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have a few things in common, and they often overlap. Research shows that people living with OCD are at an increased risk of substance misuse and dependence. Almost 3 in 10 people with OCD meet criteria for a substance use disorder.
Read on to learn more about compulsive behavior and its role in OCD and addiction.
Is compulsive behavior the same as addiction?
No, compulsive behavior in OCD isn’t the same as addiction. But they do have some things in common. Let’s first define these terms.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
OCD is a mental health condition that involves obsessions, compulsions, or both:
Obsessions are intrusive, unwanted thoughts that cause significant distress.
Compulsions are mental acts or behaviors a person does over and over again in response to an obsession or because of rules they believe they must follow. The person feels like they don’t have control over these compulsions.
Addiction
Addiction is when someone keeps engaging in a behavior or using a substance even though it causes negative consequences. An addictive behavior, such as gambling or constantly using a drug, can sometimes look like an OCD compulsion.
Because of these similarities, scientists debate whether OCD and similar disorders should actually be considered behavioral addictions (more on this below).
How are OCD and addiction similar?
Compulsive behaviors are actions that a person has a very hard time controlling. These compulsive behaviors can take up a lot of time and cause distress.
For example, someone may feel the need to check over and over again that their door is locked before going to bed. Trichotillomania, or recurrent hair pulling, is an example of a body-focused repetitive behavior that falls under the obsessive-compulsive category.
What are behavioral addictions? Learn more about behavioral addictions and how they’re treated.
Types of OCD: The obsessions that affect people with OCD — and the compulsions that come with them — fit into a few main types.
What OCD feels like: Readers share their experiences of living with OCD.
You might see similarities between compulsive behavior in OCD and addiction, such as:
Repetitive behaviors
Difficulty controlling behaviors that are difficult to control
Significant time spent on specific behaviors
Continuing a behavior despite negative consequences
What is the difference between OCD and addiction?
Pleasure is a key difference between OCD and addiction or substance use disorders.
With addiction, a person feels compelled to use a certain substance or do a certain behavior because they get some pleasure from it.
On the other hand, someone living with OCD may perform a compulsive behavior as a way to get relief from an unwanted and obsessive thought. But OCD compulsions still cause distress and anxiety. Even when they know they shouldn’t pull out their hair or check the locks again, they can’t stop the compulsive behavior — or the obsessive thought.
Why does OCD often go with addiction?
Many studies show that OCD and addiction often happen together. (But this doesn’t mean that they are the same.) For example, internet addiction among adolescents is highly associated with obsessive-compulsive symptoms.
So why do OCD and addiction go together so often? One hypothesis is that both conditions involve similar brain circuitry. Another explanation is that both conditions are driven by reward. For example, with gambling disorders, the reward is the chance to win money. With OCD, the reward is a temporary reduction in anxiety. But much more research is needed to understand the relationship between OCD and addiction.
Does OCD lead to addiction?
There’s no research to show that OCD actually causes addiction. But OCD can increase the chances of developing an addiction.
For instance, OCD symptoms are associated with increased cannabis misuse. OCD has also been linked to an increased addiction to social media and video games.
One study found that in 7 out of 10 people with both OCD and a substance use disorder, OCD began first. Some experts believe that early treatment of OCD can help prevent substance use disorders later on.
Does addiction worsen compulsive behavior?
Maybe. Experts don’t know for sure whether addiction leads to compulsive behavior. But some scientists argue that cravings for a particular substance are what leads to compulsive use.
However, taking a certain substance or medication can cause compulsive behavior. The limited data on this shows that it’s very rare. When this happens, symptoms usually improve within a few days to a few weeks after stopping the substance.
Can OCD and addiction be treated together?
Yes, OCD and addiction are often treated together. In fact, treatment that addresses both conditions is more likely to be effective than just treating addiction alone.
For severe co-occurring conditions, experts recommend highly structured programs like intensive outpatient programs (IOPs). These usually involve going to a facility multiple times a week for a few hours each time. IOP services usually include:
Individual and group therapy
Family therapy
Case management
Educational classes on topics like coping skills and how drugs impact your body
Medication
Even for mild or moderate cases, combining therapy and medication often leads to the best results.
The bottom line
There are some similarities between compulsions in OCD and compulsions in addiction. OCD also commonly occurs with substance use disorders. A comprehensive treatment plan that addresses both conditions at the same time is more likely to lead to the best results.
Why trust our experts?
References
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