Characteristics of OCD Flashcards
How many emotional characteristics are there?
There are three emotional characteristics
What is the emotional characteristic, ‘guilt and disgust’?
Individuals with OCD may start to feel guilty for the ways they feel and be disgusted with situations that cause fear
What is the emotional characteristic, ‘anxiety’?
People with OCD may have obsessive thoughts which cause discomfort and can be overwhelmingly frightening
What is the emotional characteristic, ‘depression’?
People with OCD may experience low moods and withdrawal from activities
How many behavioural characteristics are there?
There are three behavioural characteristics
What is the behavioural characteristic, ‘repetitive compulsions’?
People with OCD will repeat a behaviour
What is the behavioural characteristic, ‘anxiety reducing compulsions’?
People with OCD will display compulsive behaviours to reduce the anxiety produced by the obsession
What is the behavioural characteristic, ‘avoidance’?
People with OCD will avoid situations that cause anxiety and this may have an impact on everyday life
How many cognitive characteristics are there?
There are three cognitive characteristics
What is the cognitive characteristic, ‘obsessive thoughts’?
People with OCD have repetitive thoughts. About 90% of people with OCD experience reoccurring thoughts
What is the behavioural characteristic, ‘awareness of irrational thoughts’?
People with OCD are aware that their thoughts are irrational. Despite this, they cannot control being constantly alert towards certain situations that are potential hazards
What is the behavioural characteristic, ‘cognitive coping strategies’?
Some people with OCD use these to cope with the recurring thoughts that cause the obsessive behaviour. Coping strategies can vary from person to person but some of these strategies may appear abnormal to others
