4.1.4 BEHAVIOURAL, EMOTIONAL, COGNITIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF OCD

Question 1

what is OCD?

Answer 1

obsessive compulsive disorder

• an anxiety disorder

Question 2

what is OCD characterised by?

Answer 2

experiencing persistent and intrusive thoughts which occur as obsessions, compulsions or sometimes both

Question 3

what are obsessions?

Answer 3

cognitive internal intrusive thoughts
eg) there are germs everywhere and they could harm me

Question 4

what are compulsions?

Answer 4

behavioural external repetitive behaviours
eg) i need to wash my hands each time i touch something to avoid the germs and getting ill

Question 5

the DSM-5 recognises OCD and two other disorders related to it
what are these?

Answer 5

1) OCD
- characterised either by compulsions and/or obsessions

2) Excoriation
- compulsive skin-picking

3) Trichotillomania
- compulsive hair-pulling

Question 6

what are the two behavioural characteristics of OCD?

Answer 6

1) compulsions
2) avoidance

Question 7

what are compulsions as a behavioural characteristic?

Answer 7

• largest behavioural characteristic as they account for more than one behavioural characteristic
• repetitive and time-consuming, can stop the person from suffering from OCD from consuming their daily life
  eg) having to wash your hands 7 times in a row could easily make you late for school / work
• they reduce anxiety and the repetitive behaviour is often performed to reduce anxiety of the person suffering from OCD
  eg) washing hands 7 times in a row could reduce the anxiety of germs and the consequences of becoming ill

Question 8

what is avoidance as a behavioural characteristic?

Answer 8

• the person suffering from OCD is likely to try and avoid situations that would cause them to show their compulsions
• this can stop them from attending social situations as they’re worried about germs or avoiding personal relationships
• there is a fear that such encounters may trigger a negative response from them

Question 9

what are three emotional characteristics of OCD?

Answer 9

1) extreme anxiety
2) guilt
3) depression

Question 10

how does the emotional characteristic of extreme anxiety play into OCD?

Answer 10

the person suffering from OCD is likely to suffer from:
- extreme levels of anxiety
- obsessive thoughts (often frightening + overwhelming)
- compulsions that cause anxiety and distress

Question 11

how does the emotional characteristic of guilt play into OCD?

Answer 11

often those suffering from OCD, can have other negative emotions against themselves:
- like feeling guilt over a situation / being disgusted with themselves

Question 12

how does the emotional characteristic of depression play into OCD?

Answer 12

often those suffering from OCD, can also suffer from:
- depression
- experience low mood
- lack of enjoyment of activities
bought on by the compulsions + obsessions

Question 13

what are three cognitive characteristics of OCD?

Answer 13

1) obsessive thoughts
2) obsessive actions
3) excessive anxiety

Question 14

how does the cognitive characteristic of obsessive thoughts play into OCD?

Answer 14

majority of ppl suffering from OCD have obsessive thoughts
- this is when they have thoughts that reoccur over + over again + are often intrusive

eg) if i don’t wash my hands 7 times, i’ll die from the germs on my hands

Question 15

how does the cognitive characteristic obsessive actions of play into OCD?

Answer 15

person suffering from OCD will often have to perform these obsessive actions to allow them to continue with their day

Question 16

how does the cognitive characteristic excessive anxiety of play into OCD?

Answer 16

sufferer of OCD understands these thoughts + actions are irrational but can’t stop them
- may experience catastrophic thoughts about what could happen, in their worst-case scenario, if their anxieties come true