Characteristics of OCD

What type of disorder is OCD?

an anxiety disorder

What is OCD characterised by?

obsessions and/or compulsive behaviour

What does the DSM-5 recognise?

a range of disorders as different types of OCD

Example of subtypes of OCD (3)?

Trichotillomania (hair pulling), Hoarding disorder and Excoriation disorder (skin picking)

Characteristics of OCD: anxiety?

a result of obsessions, and leads to compulsions

Characteristics of OCD: relief?

follows compulsions, but is only temporary

Characteristics of OCD: hypervigilance?

maintaining constant alertness, keeping attention focused on potential hazards

Characteristics of OCD: accompanying depression?

anxiety can be accompanied by low mood and lack of enjoyment in activities

Characteristics of OCD: awareness of irrationality?

being aware that one’s obsessions are illogical

Characteristics of OCD: guilt and disgust?

irrational guilt and minor moral issues, and disgust towards something external (like dirt or even the self)

Characteristics of OCD: catastrophic thinking?

overestimate the likelihood of negative outcomes and exaggerate the potential consequences of a situation

Characteristics of OCD: compulsions?

a behaviour performed to help make anxiety go away

Characteristics of OCD: obsessions?

recurring intrusive thoughts, they vary between sufferers, but are always unpleasant

The OCD cycle?

 …

Emotional characteristics of depression (4)?

anxiety, guilt and disgust, relief and accompanying depression

Behavioural characteristic of depression?

compulsions

Cognitive characteristics of depression (4)?

obsessions, awareness of irrationality, hypervigilance and catastrophic thinking