What causes obsessions? Is there a cure for obsessive-compulsive disorder?

Ask a psychologist what causes obsessions and you're probably in for a very long discussion. The possible reasons for any kind of neurotic or obsessive behaviour are so numerous and so individual that it's impossible to generalise: each sufferer must seek the answers to that question for themself, dependant on their background, childhood and a whole ton of other influences.

An easier question to answer is whether obsessive-compulsive disorder can be cured, or at least treated. In both cases, the answer is "yes". OCD is one of the many anxiety-based disorders that affect a surprisingly large number of people. The disorders range from phobias to panic attacks, generalised anxiety to OCD. They can affect anyone, at any stage of life - not just the nervous and more fragile among us, but the strongest as well.

One of the biggest steps for someone who suffers from obsessions is to talk to their doctor about it. There's a natural reticence to admitting such a perceived weakness, even though it's a common problem. Patients generally feel as if they should be able to deal with things alone, that asking for help is admitting that they're abnormal or crazy. Overcoming this resistance and getting help is essential, so any encouragement from relatives or friends is a real advantage.

Once the obsessive disorder is diagnosed, the patient will need to go and talk to a psychiatrist or mental health worker. This isn't some kind of weird brain-drain, though - it's a chat with a professional to help figure out how bad things are and what kind of treatment will help. It's also the first step to finding a whole slew of services and therapies that will show the sufferer that they are most definitely not alone in their struggle.

Treatment itself can take one or more of four basic forms: self-help, group therapy, medication and full-blown analysis. At its most basic, self-help treatment often takes the form of CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy): the goal is to show the patient where things are going astray and causing them to obsess in ''normal' situations and, by encouraging changes in their reactions and thought processes, to provide a means of dealing with the problem.

Group therapy may also be advisable, though in cases such as social phobia it may not be possible. The basis of this is that the patient can share their experiences with others in a similar situation and draw on the combined strength and encouragement of the group. Such sessions usually include a teaching aspect, where the health professional explains the reasons for the condition and suggests methods of coping.

If medication may help, the psychiatrist is qualified to prescribe appropriate drugs. These may include benzo-diazepines (Lorazepam, Xanax and others) to help calm the anxiety that is the source of the obsession, or stronger products such as quetiapine (actually termed an anti-psychotic drug in strong enough doses) or chlorpromazine. They may prescribe several, but it is unlikely the course of treatment will be very long. Most of the drugs used in these circumstances are quite addictive.

Finally, in some cases, therapy, counselling or full-blown analysis may be suggested or desired by the patient. This is the most extensive and prolonged form of treatment, but also the most complete: by undergoing psychoanalysis, the patient traces things right back to the source of the problem and, instead of just managing it, comes to terms with it. In understanding lie acceptance and healing.

The key things to remember when dealing with obsession or an anxiety disorder of any type are that it can happen to anyone and that it can be successfully treated.