OCD characteristics

• What is OCD?

  mental illness characterised by either obsessions and or compulsion. Most sufferers have both
• what are obsessions?

  recurring thoughts or images
• what are compulsions

  repetitive behaviours
• what are the 3 types of OCD?

  • trichotillomania
  • hoarding disorder
  • excoriation disorder
• what’s trichitillania

  compulsive hair pulling
• what is a hoarding disorder?

  compulsive gathering of possessions and inability to part with anything, regardless of its value
• what is an excoriation disorder

  compulsive skin picking
• what are the behavioural characteristics?

  • compulsions
  • avoidance
• what categories are in compulsions?

  • compulsions are repetitive
  • compulsions reduce anxiety
• what is the cycle of OCD?

  • obsessive thought
  • anxiety
  • compulsive behaviour
  • temporary relief
• what percentage of people show compulsion behaviours alone?

  10%
• the sufferers that show compulsions alone, what do they experience instead?

  general sense of irrational anxiety
• for many, why are compulsive behaviours done?

  in an attempt to manage anxiety caused by obsessions
• explain avoidance behaviours?

  • attempt to reduce anxiety by keeping away from situations that may trigger it.
  • this can interfere with leading a normal life
• what are the emotional characteristics?

  • anxiety and distress
  • accompanying depression
  • guilt and disgust
• why do sufferers experience anxiety and distress?

  • obsessive thoughts are unpleasant and overwhelming.
  • compulsions creates anxiety.
• what can anxiety be accompanied by?

  low mood and lack of enjoyment of activities (depression)
• explain guilt and disgust?

  • irrational guilt over minor issues
  • disgust directed against self or external things
• what are the cognitive characteristics?

  • obsessive thoughts
  • cognitive strategies to deal with obsessions
  • insight into excessive anxiety
• what percentage of sufferers mainly experience obsessive thoughts?

  90%
• explain cognitive strategies to deal with obsessions?

  • may help manage anxiety
  • can make the person appear abnormal to others
  • can distract the person from everyday tasks
• what is necessary for a diagnosis of OCD?

  the individual being aware that their obsessions and compulsions are irrational
• explain insight into excessive anxiety?

  • experience catastrophic thoughts about the worst case scenario that might result if their anxieties were justified.
  • hyper vigilant
• what does it mean to be hypervigilant?

  maintain constant alertness and keep attention focused on potential hazards