Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

What is OCD?

A condition characterised by obsessions and/or compulsive behaviour

What are the behavioural characteristics of OCD?

• compulsive behaviour- repetitive and reduction of anxiety

• Avoidance

why are compulsions repetitive?

• suffered of OCD feel they must repeat a behaviour- eg, hand washing

• Other egs- counting, praying, tidying or ordering groups of objects

why do compulsions reduce anxiety?

• around 10% of sufferers of OCD show compulsive behaviour alone- they have no obsessions, just a general sense of irrational anxiety

• however, for most, compulsive behaviours happen in attempt to manage the anxiety produced by obsessions, eg- compulsive hand washing is carried out as a response of a fear of germs

Why is avoidance a behavioural characteristic of OCD?

• they attempt to reduce their anxiety by keeping away from/avoiding situations that trigger it

• eg- sufferers who was compulsively may avoid coming into contact with germs

• but, this avoidance can lead people to avoid very ordinary situations, like emptying their rubbish bins, and this can in itself interfere with leading a normal life

what are the 3 emotional characteristics of OCD?

• anxiety and distress

• accompanying depression

• guilt and disgust

why are anxiety and distress an emotional characteristic of OCD?

• OCD is regarded as a particularly unpleasant emotional experience because of the powerful anxiety that accompanies obsessions and compulsions

• obsessive thoughts are unpleasant and frightening, and the anxiety that goes with these can be overwhelming

• the urge to repeat a behaviour (a compulsion) creates anxiety

why is accompanying depression an emotional characteristic of OCD?

• OCD is often accompanied by depression, so anxiety can be accompanied by low mood and lack of enjoyment in activities

• compulsive behaviour tends to bring some relief from anxiety but this is temporary

why are guilt and disgust an emotional characteristic of OCD?

OCD sometimes involves other negative emotions like irrational guilt, eg- over minor moral issues, or disgust, which may be directed against something external like dirt or at the self

what are the 3 cog characteristics of OCD?

• obsessive thoughts

• cog. strategies to deal with obsessions

• insight into excessive anxiety

why are obsessive thoughts a cog characteristic of OCD?

• for around 90% of OCD sufferers the major cog feature of their condition is obsessive thoughts, ie- thoughts that recur over and over again

• these vary considerably from person to person but are always unpleasant

• examples of recurring thoughts are worries of being contaminated by dirt/germs or certainty that a door has been left unlocked and that intruders will enter through or impulses to hurt someone

why is insight into excessive anxiety a cog characteristic of OCD?

• people suffering from OCD are aware that their obsessions and compulsions aren’t rational- in fact, this is necessary for a diagnosis of OCD

• if someone really believed their obsessive thoughts were based on reality that would be a symptom of a quite different form of mental disorder

• but, in spite of this insight, OCD sufferers experience catastrophic thoughts about the worst case scenarios that might result if their anxieties were justified

• they also tend to be hypervigilant, ie- they maintain constant alertness and keep attention focused on potential hazards

what are cog strategies to deal with obsessions?

• obsessions are the major cog aspect of OCD, but people also respond by adopting cog coping strategies

• eg- a religious person tormented by obsessive guilt may respond by praying or meditating

• this may help manage anxiety but can make the person appear abnormal to others and can distract them from everyday tasks