Characteristics of OCD

• What are the behavioural characteristics of OCD?

  Compulsions, Avoidance
• What are the emotional characteristics of OCD?

  Anxiety and distress, Depression
• What are the cognitive characteristics of OCD?

  Obsessive thought, Catastrophic thinking
• Compulsions (behavioural)

  • repetitive behaviours e.g. hand-washing, counting
  • these behaviours reduce anxiety associated with the obsessive thoughts e.g. compulsive hand washing is a response to an obsessive fear of germs
• Avoidance (behavioural)

  • people with OCD attempt to stay away from situations that trigger anxiety
• Anxiety and distress (emotional)

  • obsessive thoughts are frightening and anxiety about them becomes overwhelming. The urge to repeat a behaviour causes anxiety.
• Depression (emotional)

  • OCD is associated with low mood and lack of enjoyment of activities
• Obsessive thought (cognitive)

  • affects 90% of sufferers. These are thoughts that recur over and over again
• Catastrophic thinking (cognitive)

  • deeply thinking about irrational, worst-case outcomes e.g. thinking if I come into contact with any germ I may die
• The behavioural, emotional and cognitive characteristics of OCD are clearly linked and it is helpful to think of them as a cycle.

  Obsessive thought > Anxiety > Compulsive behaviour > Temporary relief