Stuck song syndrome: musical obsessions when to look for OCD.
Earworms or musical obsessions (also known as stuck song syndrome [SSS] are common in the general population, but can be more pronounced and debilitating in patients with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) Recurring tunes that involuntarily pop up and stick in your mind are common: up to 98% of the Western population has experienced these earworms.1 Usually, stuck songs are catchy tunes, popping up spontaneously or triggered by emotions, associations, or by hearing the melody.1 Aetiologically, earworms are related to memory: auditory information functions as a strong mnemonic. Psychologically, earworms are a 'cognitive itch' the brain automatically itches back, resulting in a vicious loop. The more one tries to suppress the songs, the more their impetus increases, a mental process known as ironic process theory.2 Those most at risk for SSS are: females, youth, and patients with OCD.1 Patients with OCD (lifetime prevalence >1% typically suffer
The British journal of general practice the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners