obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

• behavioural characteristics of OCD

  compulsions - repetitive compulsions to reduce anxiety such as hand washing or tidying

  avoidance - keeping away from situations that trigger it and interfering with everyday life, can have social impairment
• emotional characteristics of OCD

  anxiety and distress - unpleasant emotions

  accompanying depression - compulsions only bring temporary relief, depression, lack of enjoyment

  guilt and disgust - irrational
• cognitive characteristics of OCD

  obsessive thoughts - persistent reoccurring thoughts, bad things could happen

  cognitive strategies to deal with obsessions - praying

  insight to excessive anxiety - aware they are not being rational but cannot consciously control them