Resolved question:
Hello, I have a friend with severe OCD and the root of a lot of his issues is the belief that any contact with faeces especially his own will alter his looks and make him ugly. The belief extends to the point that even without any trace left and after bathing imaginary poo can transfer itself through the air to alter his looks unless everything in his flat is constantly annihilated with extremely harsh chemicals. I aim to systematically disprove this, and step one would have to be a qualified doctor's opinion so that I can be sure that this belief is not correct before proceeding. Can you please tell me categorically, honestly, with your medical training can you think of any way a healthy person coming into direct or indirect contact with their own fecal matter will negatively affect their looks or appearance or 'make them ugly' ?
Many thanks,
Lawrence
Submitted:
4 Days
Category:
Psychiatrist
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query at DoctorSpring.com
Its not possible for a fecal contact to have any effect on ones looks.
Your friend hold a false belief and he seems he is quite fixed about
it. Now the questions comes about the insight. If he feels his
thoughts are unnecessary but still he cannot control them, then it
could be an OCD. OCD will require treatment with medicines such as
fluoxetine ot fluvoxamine in high doses and the symptoms will start
resolving in 2-3weeks.
However if he has no insight and feel his thoughts are right and feels
they need to be there for his safety, then probably its a psychosis
and will require anti-psychotics like olanzapine or risperidone or
haloperidol etc. These anti-psychotics will help in resolving the
symptoms.
Do meet your doctor and get him properly interviewed. He needs
psychiatric treatment and he will get better.
Hope I am able to answer your concerns.
Wish you good health!
Dr. SRikanth Reddy MD