ocd

• OCD?

  condition characterized by obsessions and/or compulsive behaviour. obsessions are cognitive whereas compulsions are behavioural
• Emotional characteristics of OCD ?

  Anxiety and distress - particularly unpleasant emotional experience because of the powerful anxiety that accompanies both 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 creates anxiety.

  Accompanying depression - 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

  Guilt and disgust - involves other negative emotions such as irrational guilt
• Cognitive characteristics of OCD ?

  Obsessive thoughts - thoughts that recur over and over again. vary considerably from person to person but are always unpleasant.

  Cognitive coping strategies - people respond by adopting cognitive coping strategies to deal with obsessions. may help manage anxiety but can make person appear abnormal to others and can distract them from everyday tasks.

  Insight into excessive anxiety - People with OCD are aware that their obsessions and compulsions are not rational. necessary for a diagnosis of OCD. However, people with OCD experience catastrophic thoughts about the worst case scenarios that might result if their anxieties were justified. also tend to be hypervigilant
• behavioural characteristics of OCD ?

  compulsions are repetitive - feel compelled to repeat a behaviour

  compulsions reduce anxiety - compulsive behaviours performed in attempt to manage anxiety produced by obsessions.

  avoidance - keeping away from situations that trigger their OCD.