Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) Flashcards
What is OCD?
A condition characterised by obsessions and/or compulsive behaviour
What do all types of OCD have in common?
Repetitive behaviour accompanied by obsessive thinking
What are the four categories of OCD?
1) OCD
2) Trichotillomania
3) Hoarding disorder
4) Excoriation disorder
What is trichotillomania?
Compulsive hair pulling
What is hoarding disorder?
The compulsive gathering of possessions and the inability to part with anything, regardless of its value
What is excoriation disorder?
Compulsive skin picking
What are the two behavioural characteristics of OCD?
Compulsions and avoidance
What are the two elements of compulsive behaviour?
1) Compulsions are repetitive
2) Compulsions reduce anxiety
Give four examples of compulsive behaviour
1) Hand washing
2) Counting
3) Praying
4) Tidying/ordering groups of objects
Why do compulsions reduce anxiety?
90% of sufferers perform compulsive behaviours in an attempt to manage the anxiety and fear caused by obsessions
For example, hand washing reduced the anxiety around germs
Why does OCD cause avoidance?
Sufferers try to reduce anxiety and manage OCD by keeping away from situations that trigger it
Why is avoidance bad?
It can lead people to avoid very ordinary situations, which can interfere with living a normal life
What are the three emotional characteristics of OCD?
1) Anxiety and distress
2) Accompanying depression
3) Guilt and disgust
Why is OCD an unpleasant emotional experience?
Due to the powerful anxiety that accompanies obsessions and compulsions
Why does OCD cause anxiety and distress?
Obsessive thoughts are unpleasant and frightening, while the urge to repeat behaviour (compulsions) creates anxiety
Why does OCD cause depression?
Compulsive behaviour brings some relief to anxiety but it is only temporary and can seriously limit someone’s life
How does OCD cause guilt and disgust?
OCD can cause many negative emotions such as irrational guilt and disgust towards something external or towards the self
Why does OCD cause cognitive symptoms?
It causes obsessive thoughts which can make it difficult to think about other things and can also cause a person to adopt cognitive strategies to deal with these
What are the three cognitive characteristics of OCD?
1) Obsessive thoughts
2) Cognitive strategies to deal with obsessions
3) Insight into excessive anxiety
What are obsessive thoughts?
Unpleasant thoughts that occur over and over again
Give two examples of cognitive strategies
Praying and meditating
Why does OCD cause someone to adopt cognitive strategies?
It may help to manage anxiety and obsessive thoughts
What is the problem with adopting cognitive strategies?
It can make a person appear abnormal to others and can distract them from everyday tasks
What is insight into excessive anxiety?
OCD sufferers are aware that their obsessions and compulsions are irrational, but still experience catastrophic thoughts about the worst case scenarios that may result if their anxieties are justified
What can insight into excessive anxiety lead to?
Becoming hyper vigilant - maintaining constant alertness and keeping attention focused on potential hazards
