A mishap of “odd characters” disposed as tormenting obsessional ruminations in the psyche of an adolescent boy: The etiological design and empirical consideration as per Ayurveda principles Vis-a-Vis the biopsychosocial model

Abstract

The present case vignette is on etiology of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) in an 18-year-old boy who had developed the symptoms of apprehension with obsessive thoughts (fear of odd numbers, being a victim of any bad events) since 3 years. His complaints were manifested since his parents met with a road traffic accident. His psyche had “believed” that, because of his absence at the time of the incident and due to odd characters (which were alleged as contributor subsequent to that accident), the “mishap had occurred.” His beliefs had manifested as with the influence of “these causes – a bad event will occur.” These obsessional ruminations and fear of odd numbers gradually made him surrender to the compulsions of increased ritual belief, offering prayers to God for hour's together and frequent handwash (to please the God – not to harm him/his family and as a distress-relieving act). His Y-BOC scale score was 34 (extreme). The present manuscript offers a thought on the probable etiological factors responsible for the impairment of his psyche and the management. Our thoughts were based on the principles of Ayurveda and the domains of biopsychosocial model. His personality, age, interpersonal relationship with his parents; misperceptions of his insight, odd characters as the prime causes of the mishap; unwholesome/improper regimen of food; and the emotions which were controlled at a stressful event (accident) had triggered and manifested his feeble mind into OCD. The outcome of the present case report offers the opinion as an empirical stimulation and understanding on the pathogenesis of OCD in an adolescent boy.

Keywords

• Atattvabhinivesha
• Ayurveda
• biopsychosocial model
• obsessional ruminations
• obsessions
• obsessive–compulsive disorder