Cognitive Characterisitics Of OCD Flashcards
What is the primary focus of the cognitive approach in relation to OCD?
The ways in which people process information.
What percentage of OCD sufferers experience obsessive thoughts?
Around 90%.
What are obsessive thoughts?
Thoughts that recur over and over again and are always unpleasant.
Give two examples of obsessive thoughts in OCD.
- Worries of being contaminated by dirt and germs
- Certainty that a door has been left unlocked
What are cognitive strategies in the context of OCD?
Cognitive coping strategies adopted to deal with obsessions.
How might a religious person cope with obsessive guilt?
By praying or meditating.
What is a potential downside of cognitive coping strategies for OCD sufferers?
They may appear abnormal to others and distract them from everyday tasks.
What insight do people with OCD have regarding their obsessions and compulsions?
They are aware that their obsessions and compulsions are not rational.
Why is insight into excessive anxiety necessary for a diagnosis of OCD?
Because if someone believed their obsessive thoughts were based on reality, it would indicate a different mental disorder.
What type of thoughts do OCD sufferers experience regarding worst-case scenarios?
Catastrophic thoughts.
What does hypervigilance mean in the context of OCD?
Maintaining constant alertness and keeping attention focused on potential hazards.
