Have you ever heard someone say, "I'm so clean. I'm OCD."?

你有沒有聽人說過：「我身上一塵不染，我是強迫症 ( OCD )！」？

You might think that having OCD just means being a neat freak, but actually, obsessive-compulsive disorder is a serious ailment that only affects about 2% of the population.

你可能會認為，強迫症只是意味著一個有潔癖的怪胎，但實際上，強迫症屬一種嚴重疾病，僅影響約全球 2% 的人口。

People with OCD are plagued with unwanted thoughts, behaviors, or mental images that repeat over and over.

OCD 患者常被自己不想要的想法、行為和一再一再出現的心智圖像所困擾。

They might feel like objects in a room have to be perfectly aligned, or they may worry obsessively about harming others, even if they would never actually do anything.

他們可能認為房間裡的物品必須完全對齊在一條線上，否則可能一廂情願地擔心會因此傷害到其他人，儘管他們並不會做那樣做。

And yes, some people with OCD obsess over germs and cleanliness, but it's different than just wanting your house tidy.

所以沒有錯，有些 OCD 患者確實執著於細菌和乾淨度，但是與你保持房子整潔的情況有所不同。

For those with the disorder, their obsession feels out of their control.

對於罹患這種病的人來說，他們無法控制自己的執著感。

It can be debilitating, and cleaning won't solve the problem.

這個疾病可能很累人，因為保持清潔無法解決問題根源。

These obsessions are typically intertwined with compulsions—repeated actions the person has to do just to function.

而執著感常與強迫交纏在一起 ，也就是重複一樣的行為，常常為了做而做。

If someone is obsessed with germs, they might wash their hands over and over, even after they logically know that they are clean.

如果某些人執著於細菌，他們會一遍又一遍地洗手，即便他們邏輯上已經知道自己是乾淨的。

Or if they're obsessed with safety, they might force themselves to check that the doors are locked and that the stove is off dozens of times before they can leave the house.

或者執著於安全問題，他們可能會強迫自己再三檢查門栓是否上鎖，以及一遍又一遍地檢查爐火是否已經熄滅，才會離開家中。

They might also feel the need to repeat a certain word, or count their steps.

他們也可能會覺得需要重複特定的一個字，或者算一下自己腳步。

Although OCD can take many forms, there are some things that everyone with the disorder has in common.

儘管 OCD 有多種形式表現，但罹患這種病的每個患者都有共通點。

In order to be diagnosed, the obsessions or compulsions must be extremely time-consuming and take up at least an hour a day.

強迫症的診斷，是評斷執著或強迫的情況是不是非常耗時，甚至每天會花上至少一個小時從事該動作。

Almost everyone with OCD knows their thoughts aren't logical, but they can't stop themselves.

幾乎每個強迫症的患者都曉得自己的想法不合邏輯，但他們無法阻止自己。

And they usually don't enjoy their compulsions. It's just the only way they can reduce their anxiety and stress.

他們並不喜歡他們的強迫症狀，那只是讓他們可以減少焦慮和壓力的唯一辦法。

So, for those suffering, it can hurt to hear others use the term OCD without understanding what it fully means.

所以對於那些患者來說，聽到別人在不了解什麼是「OCD」的前提下卻使用這個術語可能會讓他們很受傷 。

You might say that you have OCD because you like things to be organized, but it's a passing thought that you could shrug off.

你可能會說自己有 OCD，因為你喜歡事情有條不紊，但這想法常是一閃即過，可以不當成一回事。

Having real OCD means not being able to let go of those thoughts.

但真正的 OCD 意味著，這些想法是無法拋棄的。

Lots of studies have shown that those with OCD actually have slightly different brain function than those without.

大部分的研究顯示，罹患 OCD 的人跟正常人的腦部相比，實際上有些微功能上的差異。

Although scientists are still learning how the disorder works, many think it has to do with the changes in a circuit of the brain called the corticostriatal pathway, which regulates habit and repeated action.

儘管科學家們仍在了解這類疾病是如用作用的，但許多人認為它必定與腦中稱為皮質神經節細胞化學反應的迴路改變有關，該部位負責調節習慣及重複行為。

Recent studies have focused on trying to find medications that bind to receptors in that pathway.

近期研究則著重在試圖找到與該化學反應結合的藥物。

If the studies are successful, they may be able to develop medication that specifically targets OCD symptoms.

如果研究成功，他們就有能力開發針對 OCD 症狀的藥物。

This would be a huge leap forward.

這將會是向前邁出的很大一步。

Currently, doctors typically prescribe general antidepressants for OCD. They also recommend behavioral therapy.

目前，醫生常為 OCD 開出一般抗憂鬱藥，他們也推薦認知行為治療。

This includes exposure therapy, where patients are carefully exposed to fearful situations without being allowed to act on their compulsions.

其中包括暴露不反應治療，該治療是讓患者在控制的狀況下身處在他們懼怕的情境，但不能對強迫想法做行為反應。

For the small amount of people who don't respond to either drugs or therapy, there are more invasive procedures.

對於那些藥物或治療都沒有用的少數患者則會實施更侵入性的作法。

Around 300 people have undergone something called DBS, or deep brain stimulation, which is when electrodes are implanted in the brain to control impulses in some of the corticostriatal regions.

大約已有 300 人經歷過稱為 DBS 治療，或稱腦深層電刺激，即在大腦中植入電極以控制某些皮質紋狀體區域的衝動想法。

When the electrodes are activated, they cause the brain of someone with OCD to have the same neural activity as someone without.

當電極被啟動時，它們會使 OCD 患者的大腦中產生與正常人相同的神經細胞活動。

The treatment has been a huge success.

這種治療方式非常成功。

Almost all DBS patients say the procedure improved their mood and self-confidence, and most regained a normal quality of life.

幾乎所有 DBS 的病人都說這個療程改善了他們的心情和自信心，多數人也恢復了正常生活品質。

Although OCD can be debilitating, these types of treatments offer hope that one day soon, everyone with the disorder will be able to find relief and take back control of their life.

儘管 OCD 可能讓人元氣大傷，但這些治療也帶來希望，希望有一天每位患者都能夠解脫，並且拿回自己生活的控制權。

I hope you gain a better understanding of OCD, And let me know in the comment section below what other science topic you would like us to talk about?

希望你有更了解強迫症，在下方留言讓我知道你還想知道什麼其他科學主題。

If you enjoyed this video, then you should definitely watch our video where we tackle the question - can you have more than one personality?

如果你喜歡這支影片，那一定要看另一支探討我們是否能有多重性格的影片。

Check it out.

去看看吧。

To get this disorder, you'd have to have two or more identities that can take control of your behavior, and they have to have different memories and feelings itself.

要得到這種疾病，你必須要有兩個以上的人格，而且必須能夠控制你的行為，並且他們必須有不同的記憶與感情。

There are only a few people who have actually been documented with the psychological condition, but you've probably heard of it thanks to movies and television.

實際上有這種心理疾病的紀錄很少，但是多虧電影和電視節目，你可能有聽說過這種疾病。

My name is Bloco, this has been Life Noggin. Don't forget to keep on thinking.

我是 Bloco，這裡是 Life Noggin。別忘記持續思考。