OCD - Characteristics

• What is OCD?


  •It’s a form of anxiety that is characterised by:

  •Obsessions– recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges or images that are unwanted and intrusive.

  •Compulsions– repetitive behaviours or mental acts that an individual feels driven to perform in response to an obsession•12 in 1000 people in the UK have OCD .It’s appears equally in both genders.
• OCD Diagnosis 1

  DSM V criteria

  1)A presence of obsession, compulsions or both:

  Obsessions:

  •Recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges or images that are intrusive/unwanted and cause distress or anxiety.

  •An attempt to ignore these urges or thoughts with a compulsion.

  •The individual is aware that these thoughts are irrational. Compulsion:

  •Repetitive behaviours or mental acts that the individual feels driven to perform in response to an obsession.•The acts are aimed to reduce anxiety/distress but are not realistically connected.
• OCD diagnosis 2


  2)The Ob. and Co. are time consuming (1h+ a day) for 2 weeks of more AND cause significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other areas of functioning.
• OCD diagnosis 3


  3)Not linked to any other substance or anxiety disorder.
• Common obsessions and compulsions
• behavioural


  - Hypervigilant

  - Coping strategies

  - Compulsions - repetitive and anxiety reducing

  - avoidance of triggers
• emotional

  - thoughts give a feeling of guilt or disgust

  - anxiety and distress

  - awareness of irrational thoughts - embarrassment and shame
• cognitive


  - irrational thoughts that are unreasonable and intrusive

  - recurrent, persistent and obsessive thoughts