Characteristics of OCD

• Behavioural characteristics


  • Compulsions are repetitive - e.g. handwashing, counting, tidying
  • Compulsions reduce anxiety - around 10% of people with OCD show compulsive behaviour alone, most compulsive behaviour is in attempt to manage the anxiety produced by obsessions
  • Avoidance - keeping away from situations that trigger anxiety, can lead to avoiding ordinary situations such as emptying bins
• Emotional characteristics


  • Anxiety and distress - obsessive thoughts are unpleasant and frightening, overwhelming anxiety, the urge to repeat behaviour creates anxiety
  • Accompanying depression - anxiety can be accompanies by low mood and lack of enjoyment in activities, compulsions bring temporary relief
  • Guilt and disgust - irrational guilt over minor moral issues, disgust at external things or the self
• Cognitive characteristics


  • Obsessive thoughts - 90% of people with OCD, vary from person to person, impulses to hurt someone or worrying that a door is unlocked
  • Cognitive coping strategies - a religious person tormented by obsessive guilt may respond by praying, may manage anxiety but can make them appear abnormal to others
  • Insight to excessive anxiety - aware that their obsessions and compulsions are not rational, required for diagnosis of OCD, catastrophic thoughts about worst case scenarios, hypervigilant