Medical Questions » Arms Questions » Question No. 64
| Question: | For over two years I have had an obsession to scratch the outer part of my upper arm. I have changed my diet, toiletries, sheets, clothes etc., but doctors are at a loss, and nothing helps. Scratching makes it worse. Can you help? |
| Answer: | I suspect that you are suffering from a relatively mild, but still annoying, obsessive compulsive neurosis.
This is a condition in which the patient has a totally irrational desire to undertake a repetitive action. The desire to perform this action is constantly intruding into the patient' s thoughts, and even after completing the task, the patient feels that s/he must do it again and again. At other times the activity may be subconscious.
The victim may feel that by performing the rituals, s/he will regain control of a personality and emotions that are felt to be out of control. S/he is well aware that the habit is abnormal, but is powerless to stop it.
Obsessive compulsive neurosis is more common in women than in men, and is occasionally related to previous brain injury or infection (eg. encephalitis).
Treatment involves psychotherapy, behavioural therapy and medication. Some medications are particularly successful in treating this disorder, and a number of different ones may be tried.
You should ask your GP to refer you to a psychiatrist, who will be able to advise you further. |
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