History of OCD For centuries in Europe, from the early Middle Ages, satanic possession was believed to be the primary cause of blasphemous, sexual, or other obsessive thoughts. This could lead to bizarre, sometimes immoral, compulsive behaviours although generally suffers were not themselves deemed evil. Treatment involved the exorcism of malevolent spirits from the sufferer�s body by priests or those deemed to have special powers. In 17th century England, the concept of "religious melancholy" became established as the cause of a many mental disorders including those with OCD-like symptoms. Unlike its more ancient precursor, religious melancholy supposedly sprang from overzealous devotion to God. According to Robert Burton's famous book "Anatomy of Melancholy" (1621) "it more besots and infatuates men than wars, plagues, sicknesses, death, famine and all the rest." Burton blamed "priestly superstition" as the prime cause of "religion run wild and frenzied". Mental distress caused by religious melancholy could be cured by �the comfort of cheerful friends and productive work" and the avoidance of "solitariness and idleness". Psychoanalysis and OCD Austrian psychiatrist Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) believed obsessive-compulsive behaviour is linked to unconscious conflicts manifested as symptoms of the illness. For example Freud described a case of "touching phobia" initiated when young children have a natural desire to touch and explore objects with their fingers. Later, an "external prohibition", such as the admonition of adults can develop, suppressing this desire to touch and becoming a repressed urge within the unconscious. Conflict develops between the desires and subsequent actions of the conscious and unconscious minds. OCD sufferers, frequently "compelled" to carry out actions giving only temporary relief from anxiety, still "know" it�s ridiculous or embarrassing to do so. Freud developed psychoanalysis for curing OCD and other mental disorders through extensive dialogue between patient and psychoanalyst.