Characteristics

• What is meant by OCD

  obsessive compulsive disorder is a type of anxiety disorder, an individual with OCD has recurring thoughts and repetitive behaviours
• One behavioural characteristic of OCD is compulsions, these are repetitive behaviours that are performed in order to reduce the anxiety caused by obsessions.
• Another behavioural characteristic of OCD is avoidance, OCD sufferers attempt to reduce anxiety by keeping away from situations that trigger their obsessions
• One emotional characteristic of OCD is anxiety, this unpleasant state of high arousal is caused by the frightening nature of obsessions
• Another emotional characteristic of OCD is accompanying depression, the intrusive and persistent nature of the obsessions can also cause low mood. The need to engage in compulsions can also cause this.
• One cognitive characteristic of OCD is obsessions, these are recurrent thoughts; for example a person may experience the persistent thought that they may have harmed someone. Obsessions cause feelings of anxiety due to their intrusive and frightening nature
• Another cognitive characteristic is insight into irrationality, sufferers are aware that their thoughts and behaviours are not based in reality. however in spite of this they experience worst case scenarios if their obsessions are justified