IntroductionObsessive compulsive disorder (the fourth most common psychiatric disorder) is an illness marked by the presence of one or both of the criteria for having obsessive thoughts and repeating compulsive behaviors to suppress the anxiety caused by the thoughts. Since its first observation in the 17th century, major developments have taken place in the areas of diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Furthermore, “obsessive-compulsive disorder is associated with significant direct and indirect costs, which are compounded by lack of recognition, as well as underdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment” (Stein, 2002). With continued research and development of new technological advances such as brain imaging, further significant progress towards its understanding and treatment effectiveness is expected. Discovery Before it was considered a legitimate mental health problem, OCD was originally thought to be a consequence of ungodly behavior first observed. by Robert Burton from the 17th century. Although discovery of the disorder cannot be limited beyond its major contributors, Sigmund Freud (who initially suggested psychoanalytic treatment) made major advances in understanding the illness in the early 20th century. SymptomsKnown symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder, as identified by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, include those of obsessions and compulsions; as such, they can be classified based on their prevalence. Common symptoms of obsessions (defined as: "uncontrollable and persistent thoughts, images or impulses that an individual feels intruding into their consciousness and which cause significant anxiety...... middle of paper...... M., & Coles, ME (2013). Treatment-seeking failure and delay for anxiety disorders. Community Mental Health Journal, 668-674. Murphy, TR, Kurlan, R., & Leckman, J. (2010). of Toureete disorder, pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcus and related disorders: a way forward. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 317-331 Stein, DJ (2002). Thomsen, PH (2013). .Williams, NR and Okun, MS (2013). Deep brain stimulation (DBS) at the interface of neurology and psychiatry. The Clinical Investigation Journal, 4546-4556.