Characteristics

• What is OCD ?


  A disorder in which someone had recurrent + unwanted thoughts , a need to repeat repetitive + rigid actions or both
• What is the DSM + how does it diagnose OCD ?

  • book used by psychologists to diagnose ppl

  - recurrent obsessions + compulsions

  - individuals must recognise they are excessive + unreasonable

  - person is distressed or impaired

  - daily life is disturbed
• When is OCd diagnosed ?

  • before age 19
  • men + women equal
  • occurs in 2% of population
• What are the two main conpinents ?

  1. Obsessions
  2. Complusions
• What are obsessions ?

  • repetitive + unwanted thoughts
  • occurs automatically( no control or stop them )
  • unwanted + distressing to the individual
  • anxiety is excessive
• What are compulsions ?

  • repetitive + rigid actions done to reduce anxiety
  • if prevented from doing the action feel dread + panic
• What are cognitive symptoms ?


  The way you think

  • recurrent + intrusive thoughts or impulses that are innapropriate or forbidden
  • can be frightening or embarrassing (not shared with others)
• What are the two main cognitive symptoms ?

  1. Hypervigilance - alwyas look out for what their OCD is centered around
  2. catastrophic thinking- alwyas think worst case scenario
• What are behavioural symptoms ?

  how they behave

  • perform to reduce anxiety
  • repetitive actions
  • washing, checking, counting
  • believe something bad will happen if they don’t compete the action - causes anxiety
• What are emotional symtpoms ?

  How they feel

  • anxiety + distress
  • aware their behaviour is excessive + this causes embarrassment and shame