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If you could rename OCD, what would you call it?


Guest Annabel

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Guest Annabel

If you could rename OCD what would you call it? It's something I have been thinking about quite a bit recently as I've faced stigma over my OCD, due to the trivialisation of the term OCD.

I would like this horrible illness to have a Latin name, alternatively something like 'Persistent intrusion and ritual disorder'... Any ideas?

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Guest heartplace

I've read it suggested that it should be renamed to OCSD, or Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorder.

Intrusive Thought Disorder?

"Unwelcome thoughts" is "ingrata cogitationes" in Latin if that helps any, lol.

Edited by heartplace
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The words obsessive , compulsive and disorder used in isolation are not in themselves any reflection of the severity of this illness . Put them together and the impact is no greater.

Unless of course you suffer this hell in which case we know what it means.....

My mind is struggling to find the correct terminology to create a name - But I am of the opinion the mental illness that is currently classified as OCD should be renamed .

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Guest Annabel

I like the suggestions.

AJ45 definitely!

Intrusive thought disorder is really good.

Quicksand and Emotional Prisoner disorder definitely describe how it feels!! I was wondering about something involving 'Torment' or 'Besetting' and 'Thought/thinking' in Latin?

In the Oxford English Dictionary Obsession is defined as 'A persistent idea or impulse, often associated with anxiety and mental illness', 'A persistent preoccupation, idea or feeling'.To obsess (active- on or over) is to brood; to be obsessed with or by (passive) is to be haunted by, preoccupied by.

Compulsion: 'the state of being compelled'

Thesaurus: coercion, constraint, demand, duress, obligation, pressure, urgency, drive, urge, necessity, need.

Just for more brainstorming!

Oh also has anyone heard of the name 'Anankastic disorder'? Apparently it is an alternative name for OCPD- I'm not sure of its derivation or exact meaning or whether we could use it or something similar for OCD? xx

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Guest heartplace

I wouldn't use any alternative name for OCPD for OCD, because the two can be confused with each other when in reality they function differently.

Tormented Mind Anxiety Disorder, or TMAD. Lol If you ask me, regardless of what kinds of obsessions we have, our minds are all tormented.

Edited by heartplace
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Guest heartplace

I think I should mention, though, that I doubt a change of name would get people to joke about it less, and I'll explain why.

Take Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD), for example. As of lately it's now called Dissociative Identity Disorder, or DID. But most people still know about it by it's older name, MPD. So likewise, OCD would still be called OCD by the majority even if it's name gets changed.

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How long has OCD been called OCD?

Overtime as this disorder is researched and more people diagnosed surely the name of the illness should be reviewed.

It is somewhat ironic though that my first ever realisation that I had a " problem" came from watching a programme which made no reference to the thoughts involved just the behaviours and the name OCD . I can remember very clearly the time when I looked over at my husband and said " that's like me" .

Edited by AJ45
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Guest heartplace

How long has OCD been called OCD?

Overtime as this disorder is researched and more people diagnosed surely the name of the illness should be reviewed.

It's been called OCD since the early 20th century I think, 1910's or 20's at least. I think it used to be called Obsessive-Compulsive Neurosis but I'm not sure.

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Folks the real problem is perception not name.

And what is happening to correct people's perceptions? OCD awareness week and efforts of all of us individually collectively and by the charity to change that perception

Personally I do it all the time

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Well you see I think it is all about obsessions - I don't buy into the "pure" thing, you can usually find compulsions as well, but they may be mental ones not especially apparent until you look closely.

You could call it compulsive obsessional anxiety syndrome, illness or whatever ?

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In the Oxford English Dictionary Obsession is defined as 'A persistent idea or impulse, often associated with anxiety and mental illness', 'A persistent preoccupation, idea or feeling'.To obsess (active- on or over) is to brood; to be obsessed with or by (passive) is to be haunted by, preoccupied by.

Compulsion: 'the state of being compelled'

Thesaurus: coercion, constraint, demand, duress, obligation, pressure, urgency, drive, urge, necessity, need.

Hi Annabel,

I have raised this before as well, because I have never been a fan of the words or abbreviation, & regardless of what the OED says, I feel that non suffers assume the word 'obsessive' to mean really enjoyable like a hobby/pastime is with many, & the word 'compulsive' to mean even more enjoyable!

I would like to see it renamed, but I think it would have to be named with something say psychiatric related that many a non sufferer would not like to quite so easily associate with.

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Guest Annabel

I'm really sorry you're suffering hell-on-earth in so many ways just now Phili- totally agree with that name, and MBD and TMAD!!!

Heartplace- that's interesting that you consider the change from MPD to DID not to have made much of a difference to public perception of the condition but it seems only because Multiple personality disorder is still in common usage? Perhaps once that dies out so will the lack of understanding of the condition? Or do you think it will always be viewed in the same way?

Taurean- you're right we need to change perceptions of the condition but perception can be affected by labels and names and sometimes if a concept is strongly connected to a word/term such as 'OCD' with cleanliness, orderliness etc, it is actually harder to remove the connection between the word and the concept than it is to rename the condition, which is why names do change over time. Also the person (e.g. non-sufferer) holding a fixed view of a particular term e.g. 'OCD', has to actually be motivated himself to learn more about the truth of the condition in order for his perception to change AND because OCD has been trivialized to such an extent by the media, then people lack this motivation to learn about the condition even despite sufferers trying to raise awareness. I would hope Ashley could change the name if it did change! :)

Felix- yes I agree, it also suggests choice i.e. you choose to obsess about something. I just listed meaning of the constituent parts to help us think up an alternative. Do you have any ideas of a name for it? xx

Edited by Annabel
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Felix- yes I agree, it also suggests choice i.e. you choose to obsess about something. I just listed meaning of the constituent parts to help us think up an alternative. Do you have any ideas of a name for it? xx

Hi Annabel,

I will have a good think & try & come up with some less appealing words for non suffers to hijack.

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Hi again,

I hit the post button by mistake, & had actually intended to post a bit more. :rolleyes:

All that I meant to add was, I think a word such as 'irrational' for example might be relevant in a rename, & not quite so appealing to people that just take pride in a tidy home, & who have hijacked the abbreviation OCD.

I think the Latin works out as Insensatus which sounds pretty cool as well.

Many thanks.

xx

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