What causes cleanliness obsession

Cleanliness disorder may be caused by genetic factors, psychological trauma, obsessive-compulsive tendencies, excessive pursuit of perfection, neurobiological abnormalities, and other reasons. Cleanliness disorder is a subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder, characterized by an excessive fear of cleanliness and bacteria, often accompanied by repetitive cleaning behaviors.

1. Genetic factors

Some patients with cleanliness disorder have a familial predisposition, and if there is a history of obsessive-compulsive disorder or anxiety disorder in their immediate family members, the individual's probability of developing the disease may increase. These patients may experience functional abnormalities in neurotransmitters related to emotion regulation in their brains, leading to excessive sensitivity to pollutants. It is recommended that individuals with a family history pay attention to early psychological assessment and prevent symptom development through mindfulness training and other methods.

2. Psychological trauma

Experiencing health-related traumatic events during childhood, such as serious illness or severe punishment due to unclean behavior, may lead to pathological cleanliness concepts. These patients often associate cleaning behavior with a sense of security and relieve anxiety through repeated cleaning. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help patients rebuild a reasonable assessment of pollution and reduce compulsive behavior. Individuals with obsessive-compulsive personality traits are more likely to develop cleanliness disorder, manifested as an extreme need for order and control. These patients often become trapped in cleaning rituals and cannot extricate themselves, knowing that their behavior is excessive but difficult to stop. Exposure and response prevention therapy can gradually reduce its sensitivity to pollution, and when combined with medication, it can improve symptoms.

4. Excessive pursuit of perfection

Some patients set the cleaning standards too high, believing that any small stains represent danger. This perfectionist tendency may be related to social pressure or family education, leading to extreme cleanliness behaviors to maintain psychological balance. Acceptance commitment therapy can help adjust irrational cognition and establish flexible evaluation criteria.

5. Neurobiological abnormalities

Research has found that patients with cleanliness disorder have abnormal functional connections between the prefrontal cortex and basal ganglia, which affect their ability to judge threat signals. This physiological change may lead to excessive vigilance towards common pollutants. Physical therapy such as transcranial magnetic stimulation may regulate the activity of related brain regions and should be performed under the guidance of a professional physician.

Cleanliness patients can try gradually exposing themselves to mildly polluted environments in their daily lives, combined with deep breathing relaxation training. Maintaining a regular schedule and moderate exercise can help alleviate anxiety and avoid excessive intake of stimulating substances such as caffeine. If the cleaning behavior has seriously affected daily life, it is recommended to seek the help of a psychotherapist or psychiatrist in a timely manner. Medications such as sertraline and fluoxetine may improve symptoms, but must be strictly used according to medical advice. Family members should avoid criticism and blame, and assist patients in establishing healthy cleaning habits with a calm attitude.