Module 9 - Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders

Obsessions

Defined as repetitive and persistent thoughts, urges, or images.

These obsessions are intrusive, time-consuming (i.e., take more than an hour a day), and unwanted, often causing significant distress or impairment in an individual’s daily functioning.

Compulsions

• time-consuming, repetitive behaviors or mental acts that an individual performs in response to an obsession.

• Common examples of compulsions are checking (e.g., repeatedly checking if the stove is turned off even though the first four-times they checked it was), counting (e.g., flicking the lights off and on exactly five times), hand washing, symmetry, fears of harm to self or others, or repeating specific words

• These compulsive behaviors essentially alleviate the anxiety associated with the obsessive thoughts

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

• another obsessive disorder; however, the focus of the obsessions is with perceived defects or flaws in one’s physical appearance.

• A key feature of these obsessions is that they are not observable or appear slight to others.

• An individual who has a congenital facial defect or a burn victim who is concerned about their scars are not examples of an individual with this disorder

Hoarding Disorder

• the key feature is the persistent over-accumulation of possessions (APA, 2022).

• While we all obtain items throughout life, individuals with hoarding disorder continue to accumulate
  items without discarding possessions, regardless of their value or sentiment.

• This lack of discarding occurs over a long period and is not explained by a recent significant stressor (e.g., lost house in fire, so now keeps everything)