OCD

• OCD = obsessive compulsive disorder
• obsession = thoughts
• compulsion - behaviour
• OCD is a disorder characterised by obsessions and compulsions
• It involves repetitive intrusive thoughts and anxiety reducing behaviours
• How common is OCD?

  2% of the population
• What are obsessions?

  thoughts that are persistent, unwanted and irrational (cognition)
• What are compulsions?

  tasks that people do to relive the obsessions (behaviour)
• Most OCD sufferers have both O and C

  10% only C

  20% only O
• Trichotillomania: compulsive hair pulling
• Hoarding disorder: the compulsive gathering of possessions and the inability to part with anything regardless of its value
• Excoriation disorder: compulsive skin picking
• Emotional characteristics?

  anxiety/distress

  guilt/disgust

  depression
• Behavioural Characteristics?

  compulsions - repetitive

  compulsions - anxiety reducing

  avoidance
• Cognitive characteristics?

  obsessive thoughts

  cognitive coping strategies

  awareness of excessive anxiety
• Anxiety and distress?


  unpleasant and frightening
• Depression?


  Often accompanies OCD, compulsions may reduce anxiety but they're only short term fixes
• Guilt/Disgust?


  These can be about the self or external factors (e.g. dirt) and guilt is often irrational
• Compulsions - repetitive?


  repetitive, habitual e.g. washing, counting, ordering
• Compulsions - anxiety reduction?

  Only 10% of OCD show compulsions without obsessions, for most these compulsions serve the sole purpose to reduce anxiety
• Avoidance?


  Sufferers may attempt to avoid anxiety by avoiding situations e.g. germ avoiders may avoid putting out the bins
• Obsessive thoughts?


  90% of sufferers have recurring thoughts and are unpleasant
• Cognitive coping strategies?


  They devise their own ways to cope with obsessive thoughts e.g. those with obsessive thoughts of family members dying will choose to pray (making them seem abnormal to others) and can interfere with everyday life
• Awareness of excessive anxiety?


  They are aware their thoughts/ behaviours are not rational. They are hypervigilant and alert of potential hazards