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Annals of Psychophysiology                                                                                                               Volume 4, July 2017 
©Advance Educational Institute & Research Centre                                                                    www.aeirc-edu.com 

ISSN 2412 - 3188 
 

Original Article 

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Is More Flyer in New 

Generation 
Nimra Siddiqui*, Syedd Anamta Knawal, Syeda Zarfshan Fatima & Kainat ghaffor 

Jinnah University for women, Karachi, Pakistan. 

Corresponding Author: nimrasiddiqui185@gmail.com 

 

Abstract 

Obsessions are thought, images and impulses that occur repeatedly. Persons having obsessive 

compulsive disorder do not want to have these thoughts because these thoughts disturbing them. 

Ordinarily, individuals having obsessive compulsive disorder recognized that these thoughts are 

senseless. The common symptoms of OCD is avoid contamination such as washing hand 

excessively, cleaning household, etc. Now a days, the use of modern technology such as online 

video games, selfies and social media is increased. The over use of this technology can lead to 

obsessive compulsive disorder in young generations. In OCD there is Serotonin deficiency in 

synapse this low levels of serotonin can cause OCD symptoms. Antidepressants (SSRI’s) is used 

to treat OCD because it increased the serotonin level in synapse The drugs include: Clomipramine 

(Anafranil), Fluoxetine (Prozac), Fluvoxamine, Sertraline (Zoloft) and Paroxetine (Paxil, 

Pexeva).The psychological treatment of OCD is very effective when it takes the form of cognitive-

behavioral therapy (CBT) and lot of research is required for the same before it affects large 

population of the world and will be on the top of the list of Global Burden of Diseases. 

 

Keywords 

Obsessive compulsive disorder, young generation, contamination, selfies, smart phone,  

Online video games.  

 

Introduction

The principal aim of this study were to 

examine the prevalence rate, clinical 

characteristic and related factors of obsessive 

compulsive disorder. Obsessions are thought, 

images and impulses that occur repeatedly. 

Persons with obsessive compulsive disorder 

do not want to have these thoughts because 

these thoughts disturbing them. Ordinarily, 

individuals having obsessive compulsive 

disorder recognized that these thoughts are 

senseless. Obsession are typically 

accompanied by intense and uncomfortable 

feelings such as doubt, fear etc. (Clark, et al., 

2014). Compulsion is the subsequent part of 

obsessive compulsive disorder. These are 

repetitive thoughts or behavior that the 

person uses with the impulsion of 

neutralizing, counteracting or making their 

obsession go away. People having obsessive 

compulsive disorder realized that it is a 

temporary solution but without a better way 

to confront they rely on the compulsion as a 

temporary evade. Compulsions can also 

include avoiding situation that trigger 

obsession (Clark, et al., 2014). Serotonin is 

an important neurotransmitter in the brain. 

The primary use of serotonin to communicate 

between the brain’s deeper structure i.e. basal 

ganglia and the front part of the brain i.e. 

Cortex .In OCD there is Serotonin deficiency 

in synapse this low levels of serotonin can 

cause OCD symptoms (OCD-UK). The 

psychological treatment of OCD is very 

effective when it takes the form of cognitive-

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Nimra Siddiqui 39 

  

Annals of Psychophysiology                                                                                                               Volume 4, July 2017 
©Advance Educational Institute & Research Centre                                                                    www.aeirc-edu.com 

ISSN 2412 - 3188 
 

behavioral therapy (CBT) or behavior 

therapy these treatment are closely linked to 

learning and cognitive-behavioral theories of 

the maintenance of OCD (Meyer v., 

1966).Certain psychiatric medications can 

control the obsessions and compulsions of 

OCD. Antidepressants (SSRI’s) approved by 

the Food and Drug Administration is used to 

treat OCD include: Clomipramine 

(Anafranil), Fluoxetine (Prozac), 

Fluvoxamine, Sertraline (Zoloft) and 

Paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva) (MFMER 1998-

2017).  

 

In this modern world technology is a big part 

of our society and our foreseeable future. The 

use of modern technology such as online 

video games and social media is increased 

over the last decade (Cheng & Li, 2014; Kuss 

& Griffiths, Karila & Billieux, 2014; 

Mazzoni & Lannone, 2014; Ryan, Chester, 

Reece & Xenos, 2014; Young, 2015). These 

technology has been associated with many 

positive attributes such as cognitive skill 

development, social interaction, 

entertainment and many more but the 

excessive use of this technology lead to 

addiction and this addiction further lead to 

ADHD, mood swings and obsessive 

compulsive disorder. Researchers 

demonstrated that both women and men use 

different online activities men’s are more 

addicted to online video gaming whereas 

women’s are more addicted to social media, 

texting, and online shopping (Andreassen C. 

S., et al., 2016).The another obsession is 

Smartphone. Ahonen (2011) research by 

Nokia Company that the average person look 

at their phone about 150 times a day. A 

survey studied show that 45% of British 

adults indicated they feel worried when they 

cannot access their email and social sites 

even many of them check there Smartphone 

in every 1 hour (Rosen, L. D., et al., 2013). 

OCD is the most common disorder, its affect 

over 2% population about more than in 50 

people in the world. The more people suffer 

from obsessive compulsive disorder than 

from depression and bipolar (Obsessive-

CompulsiveDisorder-2012). According to 

one of such study which was held in Pakistan 

in 2012 on fisherman community, it was 

found that 3% population was suffering from 

OCD among them 56% were females and 

50% young generation under the age of 25. 

The most recurring symptoms were found to 

be dirt, contamination, checking fear of 

losing things and religious thoughts. 

According to the author Pakistan need more 

intuitions into the presence of this disorder 

and more research work are needed to 

determine the consequences of this disorder 

(Gadit, A. A, 2012). 

 

Common Obsession in OCD 

(Clark, D. A., & Radomsky, A. S. 2014). 

  

 Contamination such as body fluid 

(examples: urine, feces), germs/disease 

(example: HIV, herpes), environmental 

contamination, house hold chemicals 

(example cleaner solvents), dirt, etc. 

 Losing control such as Fear of acting on 

an impulse to harm others or oneself, 

Fear of violet or horrific images in one’s 

mind, Fear of blurting out obscenities or 

insults and Fear of stealing things 

 Harm: Fear of being responsible for 

something terrible happening (example 

Fire burglary); Fear of harming other 

because of not being careful enough 

(example: dropping something on the 

ground that might cause someone to slip 

and hurt him/herself.) 

 Unwanted sexual thoughts such as 

Forbidden or perverse sexual impulses 

for others, Forbidden or perverse sexual 

thoughts or images, Obsession about 

homosexuality, Obsession about 

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Nimra Siddiqui 40 

  

Annals of Psychophysiology                                                                                                               Volume 4, July 2017 
©Advance Educational Institute & Research Centre                                                                    www.aeirc-edu.com 

ISSN 2412 - 3188 
 

aggressive sexual behavior towards 

other. 

 Obsession related to perfectionism such 

as Concern about evenness or exactness, 

Concern with a need to know or 

remember, Fear of losing or forgetting 

important information when throwing 

something out, Fear of losing thing. 

 Other such as Excessive concern about 

right or wrong thing morality, Concern 

with a getting physical illness or diseases 

(not by contamination e.g. Cancer). 

 

Common Compulsion in OCD  

(Wilhelm, S., & Steketee, G. S., 2006).  

 

 Cleaning and Washing such as Hand 

washing, showering, bathing, tooth 

brushing, excessively and doing other 

thing to prevent contamination. 

 Checking such as Checking that you 

did/will not harm other or yourself, 

checking that you did not make a 

mistake, checking some parts of your 

physical condition or body, checking 

that nothing terrible happened. 

 Repeating such as Rewriting or 

Rereading, Repeating routine activities 

(examples: going in or out doors, getting 

up or down of the chair), Repeating body 

movement (example: touching and 

blinking), Repeating activities in 

multiple times. 

 Mental Compulsion such as Mental 

review of event to prevent harm, Praying 

to prevent from harm, Counting while 

performing a task to end on a ‘good’, 

‘right’ or ‘safe’ number, Undoing or 

cancelling (example: replacing a bad 

word with a good word to cancel it out).  

 Other Compulsion such as putting things 

in order or arranging things until right it 

‘feel right’, Telling asking or confessing 

to get reassurance, Avoiding situation 

that trigger obsession. 

Methodology 

The study was conducted among the 

people(n=150) of all age groups belonging to 

various categories of our society  including 

students , housewife, working men and 

women, there was no exclusion criteria, the 

questionnaire can be filled by anyone. The 

study is based on general OCD symptoms 

open ended questionnaire and general 

interviews which are taken at different places 

of metropolitan city of Pakistan i.e. Karachi. 

People were asked about general OCD 

symptoms including fear of losing thing, 

checking of social accounts or smart phone, 

washing and cleaning practice, playing video 

games and maximum number of selfies 

taking at a time. 

 

Results 

After careful evolution we interpreted that 62 

% females are affected by this disorder 

whereas 38 % male have obsessive 

compulsive disorder. The 20 -30 age group is 

mostly affected i.e. 64.20% whereas under 20 

is affected 23 % and above 30 age group is 

less affected i.e. 12.80% as shown in figure # 

1 and 2. 

 

According to the survey result this show that 

49% of the population in the metropolitan 

city is aware of this disorder while the rest of 

the 51% people were   unaware of this 

disorder and they think that it is normal thing 

which they do regularly that is shown in 

figure # 3 

 

People were asked about how much they 

conscious about contamination? The survey 

result shows that 55.60% people were 

concerned with contaminations like dust, 

germs, chemicals, radiations or by getting 

any serious illness such as AIDS and while 

other 44.40 % population are not concerned 

with any type of contamination that is sown 

in figure # 4. 

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Nimra Siddiqui 41 

  

Annals of Psychophysiology                                                                                                               Volume 4, July 2017 
©Advance Educational Institute & Research Centre                                                                    www.aeirc-edu.com 

ISSN 2412 - 3188 
 

 

 The current study shows that washing and 

cleaning practices are observed in the 

population that 30.60% peoples Consider 

them  helpless to overcome their impulses to 

wash out their hand over and over again 

because every time after washing out their 

hand they again become phobic about 

contamination and they again wash their 

hands.19.40% Individuals avoid to touching 

thing because of contamination , while 4.20% 

individuals face difficulty in picking up items 

that have dropped On the floor because of 

contamination or germs, whereas 11.80% 

peoples clean their home a lot because of 

their Skeptical behavior about Cleanness and 

contamination mostly above 30 women’s are 

obsessive of cleaning their household 

excessively ,While 6.30% individuals Think 

overly about contamination and also become  

phobic. Whereas 19.40% are not conscious 

about any contamination and germ this is 

consider as they are not obsessive that is 

shown in the figure # 5.  

 

The result show it clearly that  7.60% 

individuals does excessive cleaning or 

washing of their house or even clean them 

self-many time it is one of most common type 

of OCD in which individuals do such type of 

acts , where 34.70% individuals repeatedly 

check switches ,water faucets. Some of these 

individuals may be OCD patient about which 

they actually unaware of this disorder, where 

2.80% of individuals Count or arranging 

thing repeatedly but there is a less chance of 

OCD and we don’t easily consider it OCD 

because It may be their conscious that they 

may  not be Shameful in their social circle 

about these embarrassed thing but we can't 

neglect it as OCD so we also should Have to 

do proper OCD test, where 1.40% of 

individuals Repeat their routine work but it is 

rare case and if seen so don’t take it too easily 

, where 52.50% of peoples not repeat their 

task which is an good condition that show 

clearly that they are non OCD and non-

phobic patient ,whereas 0.70% excessively 

charge Their mobile which also an 

disadvantage of mobile which make people 

to conscious about charging and make them 

obsessive , while 0.70% of individuals check 

their important documents which is another 

Sign of perfectionism but also may be OCD 

condition that is shown in the figure # 6. 

 

The graph (figure # 7) result show that 24% 

people do not avoid throwing things away 

because they are afraid that they may be need 

them later but 35% people a bit avoid 

throwing things away because they are afraid 

that they may be need them later, 22% people 

averagely avoid throwing things away 

because they are afraid that they may be need 

them later, 11% people mostly or amassment 

avoid throwing things away because they are 

afraid that they may be need them later , 8% 

people maximal avoid throwing things away 

because they are afraid that they may be need 

them later. 

 

The graph (figure # 8)  result show that 

26.40% people do not frequently get nasty 

thoughts and have difficulty in getting rid of 

them 36.80% people a bit frequently get 

nasty thoughts and have difficulty in getting 

rid of them 22.90% people averagely 

frequently get nasty thoughts and have 

difficulty in getting rid of them 8.30% people 

mostly or amassment frequently get nasty 

thoughts and have difficulty in getting rid of 

them 5.60% people maximal frequently get 

nasty thoughts and have difficulty in getting 

rid of them. 

 

The graph result show that 60% people 

constantly worried that something bad will 

happen because they forgot something 

important, 40% people do not constantly 

worried that something bad will happen 

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Nimra Siddiqui 42 

  

Annals of Psychophysiology                                                                                                               Volume 4, July 2017 
©Advance Educational Institute & Research Centre                                                                    www.aeirc-edu.com 

ISSN 2412 - 3188 
 

because they forgot something important as 

shown in figure # 9. 

 

The (figure # 10) shows that 81.40% take 

selfies occasionally while 18.6% take selfies 

all the times a day and these people become 

obsessive. The figure #11 shows that 21.40% 

people say that his/her partner or parents 

complained that they spend more time on 

using phone while talking to them this 

obsession is very common in female.49% 

people say that there partner or parents do not 

complained that they are spend too much 

time on cell phone whereas remaining 

29.70% people say that there partner or 

parents say once or twice a day this shows 

that these people are obsessive in using cell 

phone. 

 

The question which is asked to the people of 

Karachi that what the first thing is they do 

when they wake up? 53.10% people say that 

they reach their phone next to their bed and 

check Facebook and twitter these indicate 

that they are obsessive to social media while 

17.90% people say that they stumble into the 

shower and other 29 % people say that that 

again go back to sleep as shown in figure #12. 

 

People were asked about did they play video 

game and if yes then how much time they 

play video game? 63.60% people say that 

they play video game where as 36.40 % 

people say that they have no interest in video 

games mostly male are obsessive of playing 

video games Most of the people 22.40% say 

that they only play video game in free time 

while 22.20 % people say that they play video 

game 1-2 hours whereas 33.30 % people say 

that they play video game all the time of the 

day they are very addicted to video game 

according research these people are obsessive 

of playing video game due to loneliness  as 

shown in (figure #13)

 

Figure 1 shows Gender. 

 

 
 

 

female

62%

male

38%

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Nimra Siddiqui 43 

  

Annals of Psychophysiology                                                                                                               Volume 4, July 2017 
©Advance Educational Institute & Research Centre                                                                    www.aeirc-edu.com 

ISSN 2412 - 3188 
 

 

Figure 2 indicates Age wise OCD patients. 

 

 

 
 

Figure 3 showing Knowledge about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

23%

64.20%

12.80%

Below 20 20-30 Above 30

49%

51%

Yes No

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Nimra Siddiqui 44 

  

Annals of Psychophysiology                                                                                                               Volume 4, July 2017 
©Advance Educational Institute & Research Centre                                                                    www.aeirc-edu.com 

ISSN 2412 - 3188 
 

Figure 4 showing individual concern with contamination or getting a  

Serious illness (AIDS) 

 
 

Figure 5 Washing and cleaning 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

55.60%

44.40%

Yes No

19.40%

4.20%

11.80%

30.60%

8.30%
6.30%

19.40%

I avoid touching

certain things

because of

possible

contamination

I have difficulty

picking up items

that have

dropped on the

floor

I clean my

household

excessively

I wash my hand

excessively

I often take

extremly long

shower bath

I am overly

concern with

germs and

disease

I am not

concern with

any

contamination

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Nimra Siddiqui 45 

  

Annals of Psychophysiology                                                                                                               Volume 4, July 2017 
©Advance Educational Institute & Research Centre                                                                    www.aeirc-edu.com 

ISSN 2412 - 3188 
 

Figure 6 showing Repeat certain act over and over again 

 
 

Figure 7 Avoid throwing things away to save it for future use. 

 

 
 

 

7.60%

34.70%

2.80% 1.40%

52.50%

0.70% 0.70%

Excessive or

ritualized washing

,cleaning and

grooming

Checking light

switches,water

faucets,the

stove,door locks or

the emergency

brake?

counting,arranging

or evening up

behaviuor(making

sure soaks are  at

the same heights)

Repeat routine

actions(in/out of

chairs,relighting

cigratte) a certain

number of times or

untill it feels just

right?

I don't repeat any

task

Mobile charging Checking

documents

24%

35%

22%

11%

8% Not at all

A little

Moderately

A lot

Extremly

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Nimra Siddiqui 46 

  

Annals of Psychophysiology                                                                                                               Volume 4, July 2017 
©Advance Educational Institute & Research Centre                                                                    www.aeirc-edu.com 

ISSN 2412 - 3188 
 

Figure 8 shows getting nasty thoughts and facing difficulty getting rid of them. 

 

 
 

 

Figure 9 Afraid Losing Something Important. 

 
Figure 10 Habitual Of Taking Selfies.

 

 

 

 

26%

36.80%

22.90%

8.30%
5.60%

Not at all A little Moderately A lot extremly

yes No

68.10%

31.90%

occasionally you might take one

but not every day

all the time--it's a good way of

checking how you look

81.40%

18.60%

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Nimra Siddiqui 47 

  

Annals of Psychophysiology                                                                                                               Volume 4, July 2017 
©Advance Educational Institute & Research Centre                                                                    www.aeirc-edu.com 

ISSN 2412 - 3188 
 

Figure 11 Spending More Time Using Mobile Phone. 

 

 
 

 

Figure 12 First Thing Individual Does When She/he Wakes Up. 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

49%

21.40%

29.70%

No yes,all the time a day Once or twice a day

53.10%

17.90%

29%

reach for your phone next to your bed

to check facebook and twitter

stumble into the shower hit snooze and go back to sleep

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Nimra Siddiqui 48 

  

Annals of Psychophysiology                                                                                                               Volume 4, July 2017 
©Advance Educational Institute & Research Centre                                                                    www.aeirc-edu.com 

ISSN 2412 - 3188 
 

 

Figure 13 shows Time Spend by an individual in Playing Video Games.  

 
 

 

Discussion  

A survey result which was conducted in the 

city of Karachi in which many people 

participated according to the result almost 

both gender are affected by this disorder but 

females are highly affected 20-30 age group 

is highly obsessive. whereas above 30 age is 

less affected approximately half population 

of the Karachi city are unaware of this 

disorder and people think that it is the normal 

thing which they do their routine activities 

the most common symptom of obsessive 

compulsive disorder is contamination  that  

55.60% people say that they are very 

conscious about contamination  people were 

asked about what they do to avoid 

contamination people were said that they 

wash their hand excessively because they 

think that their hand are not wash completely 

or  its hand are not free from germs so they 

wash their hand again and again Hence it is a 

kind of anxiety. The women’s above 30 age 

and married said that they wash their 

household excessively some people said that 

they avoid picking thing from the ground due 

to contamination. Repetition is the common 

symptom of compulsion people were asked 

about this symptoms most of the Individuals 

repeatedly check switches, water faucets 

because they are afraid that something bad  is 

happen if they don’t check switches ,locks, 

etc. these individuals may be OCD patient 

about which they are  actually unaware of this 

disorder, whereas individuals who Count or 

arranging thing repeatedly but there is a less 

chance of OCD and we don’t easily consider 

it OCD because It may be their conscious that 

they may not be Shameful in their social 

circle about these embarrassed thing but we 

can't neglect it as OCD so we also should 

have to do proper OCD test. In this current 

study shows that smart phone is the major 

factor of causing obsessive compulsive 

disorder. People spent too much time to using 

cell phone such as 21.40% people said that 

his/her partner or parents complained that 

they spend more time on using phone while 

talking to them this obsession is very 

common in female.49% people said that there 

partner or parents do not complained that 

they are spend too much time on cell phone 

whereas remaining 29.70% people said that 

there partner or parents say once or twice a 

day this shows that these people are obsessive 

63.60%

36.40%

22.20%

33.30%

22.40%

Yes

No

1-2 Hours

All the time a day

Free time

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Nimra Siddiqui 49 

  

Annals of Psychophysiology                                                                                                               Volume 4, July 2017 
©Advance Educational Institute & Research Centre                                                                    www.aeirc-edu.com 

ISSN 2412 - 3188 
 

of using cell phone. The 84% people say that 

they take selfies occasionally. These 

indicated that are not obsessive compulsive 

disorder but all the time a day taking selfies 

indicate obsessive compulsive disorder. 

According to American psychiatric 

association especially in young girls selfies 

causes obsessive compulsive disorder .The 

majority of people said that they are using 

cell phone when they wake up and check 

Facebook, twitter and other social sites and 

these technologies take our new generation 

towards obsessive compulsive disorder. 

 

Conclusion 

We have concluded that OCD is the most 

prevailing disorder .The young generation is 

highly obsessive to the latest technologies 

such as smart phone, selfies, online video 

games, Facebook, Twitter, etc. The people 

are unaware of this disorder and they think 

that these are normal thing. We have to 

educate young generation that selfies 

capturing, spending too much time of playing 

video games, social media is not the normal 

practice and they should use latest 

technologies in limited time. We should 

organize seminar to aware the people about 

this disorder and its treatment. The lot of 

research is required for the same before it 

affects large population of the world and will 

be on the top of the list of Global Burden of 

Diseases. 

 

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