Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Question 1

What is OCD?

Answer 1

A condition characterised by obsessions and/or compulsive behaviour

Question 2

What are the related disorders (repetitive behaviour & obsessive thinking) of OCD that the DSM system recognises?

Answer 2

• OCD - characterised by obsessions and/or compulsions (both most of the time)
• trichotillomania - compulsive hair pulling
• hoarding disorder - compulsive gathering of objects regardless of their value
• excoriation disorder - compulsive skin picking

Question 3

What are some behavioural characteristics of OCD?

Answer 3

• 2 elements of compulsive behaviours: compulsions are repetitive & compulsions reduce anxiety
• avoidance - people with OCD try to reduce anxiety by avoiding situations that trigger it e.g. avoiding going outside which interupts with their everday life

Question 4

What does ‘compulsions are repetitive’ mean?

Answer 4

sufferers of OCD often feel compelled to repeat behaviour e.g. hand washing

Question 5

What does ‘compulsions reduce anxiety’ mean?

Answer 5

• most compulsive behaviours are performed in an attempt to manage produced by obsessions
• e.g. compulsive hand washing carried out in response to obsessive fear of germs

Question 6

What are some emotional characteristics of OCD?

Answer 6

• anxiety & distress - obsessive thoughts are frightening & the anxiety along with it can be overwhelming - the urge to repeat behaviour creates anxiety
• accompanying depression - OCD is usually accompanied by depression - compulsive behaviour tends to bring some temporary relief from anxiety
• guilt & disgust - OCD sometimes involves irrational guilt or disgust which may be directed against something external or at the self

Question 7

What are some cognitive characteristics of OCD?

Answer 7

• obsessive thoughts - 90& of sufferers of OCD have obsessive thoughts which are usually unpleasant e.g. the door is unlocked & intruders will enter
• cognitive strategies to deal with obsessions - people respond to OCD by adopting cognitive coping strategies e.g. meditating which may help manage anxiety but also distract someone from everyday tasks
• insight into excessive anxiety - people with OCD are aware that they’re obsessions are irrational (necessary for diagnosing OCD) but sufferers may experience catastrophic thoughts about the worst case scenarios that might result if anxieties were justified