Characteristics of OCD Flashcards
1
Q
What is obsessive compulsive disorder?
A
A serious anxiety disorder where a person experiences frequent intrusive and unwelcome obsessional thoughts, often followed by repetitive compulsions, impulses or urges
2
Q
What do obsessive thoughts do?
A
Cause anxiety
3
Q
What do compulsions do?
A
If carried out, reduces anxiety of obsessions
4
Q
What are obsessions?
A
Recurrent and persistent thoughts, images, impulses, worries, fears or doubts that are often intrusive and difficult to ignore
5
Q
What are common examples of obsessions?
A
- Fear about being contaminated by dirt, germs or chemicals
- Aggressive thoughts about physically harming a loved one
- Anxieties about things being exactly right or symmetrical
6
Q
What are compulsions?
A
Repetitive physical behaviours or mental thought rituals that are performed over and over again in response to an obsession
7
Q
What are common examples of compulsions?
A
- Checking behaviours
- Cleaning/ contamination behaviours
- Hoarding behaviour
