Symptoms

• OCD: A condition characterised by obsessions and/or compulsive behaviours. Obsessions are cognitions, whereas compulsions are behavioural.
• Trichotillomania: compulsive hair pulling.
• Hoarding disorder: the compulsive gathering of possessions and the inability to part with anything, regardless of its value
• Excoriation disorder: excessive skin picking.
• COMPULSIVE BEHAVIOURS

  • Compulsions are repetitive: typically sufferers of OCD feel compelled to repeat a behaviour.
  • Compulsions reduce anxiety. Around 10% of sufferers of OCD show compulsive behaviour alone, they have no obsessions, just a general sense of irrational anxiety.
  • This is a behavioural characteristic.
• AVOIDANCE - as they attempt to reduce anxiety by keeping away from situations that trigger it. However, this avoidance can lead people to avoid very ordinary situations, such as emptying their rubbish bins, and this can in itself interfere with leading a normal life. This is a behavioural characteristic.
• ANXIETY AND DISTRESS - OCD is regarded as a particularly unpleasant emotional experience because of the powerful anxiety that accompanies both obsessions and compulsions. This is an emotional characteristic.
• ACCOMPANYING DEPRESSION - OCD is often accompanied by depression, so 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. This is an emotional characteristic
• GUILTY AND DISGUST - as well as anxiety and depression, OCD sometimes involves other negative emotions such as irrational guilt for example over minor moral issues, or disgust which may be directed against something external like germs, or at the self. This is an emotional characteristic.
• OBSESSIVE THOUGHTS - for around 90% of OCD sufferers, the major cognitive feature of their condition is obsessive thoughts. These vary from person to person but are always unpleasant. This is a cognitive characteristic.
• COGNITIVE STRATEGIES - obsessions are a major cognitive aspect of OCD, but many also respond by adopting coping strategies, like praying This may help manage anxiety but can make the person appear abnormal to others and can distract them from everyday tasks. This is a cognitive characteristic.
• INSIGHT INTO EXCESSIVE ANXIETY - people suffering from OCD are aware their thoughts are not rational. This is actually a necessary step for a diagnosis. This is a cognitive characteristic.