Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Question 1

DSM-5 catergories of OCD

OCD

Answer 1

OCD is characterised by repetitive behaviour accompanied by obsessive thinking

OCD - characterised by obsessions and/or compulsions - most people w/ diagnosis have both
Trichotillomania - compulsive hair-pulling
Hoarding disorder - compulsive gathering of possessions and inability to part w/ anything
Excoriation disorder - compulsive skin-picking

Question 2

Compulsions are repetitive

Behavioural characteristics of OCD

Answer 2

People w/ OCD feel compelled to repeat a behaviour
E.g. handwashing, counting & praying

Question 3

Compulsions reduce anxiety

Behavioural characteristics of OCD

Answer 3

10% of people w/ OCD show compulsive behaviour alone - no obsessions, just general anxiety
For most, compulsive behaviours are performed in attempt to manage anxiety produced by obsessions

Question 4

Avoidance

Behavioural characteristics of OCD

Answer 4

Behaviour of people w/ OCD may be characterised by their avoidance as they attempt to reduce anxiety by keeping away from situations that trigger it

Question 5

Anxiety and distress

Emotional characteristics of OCD

Answer 5

OCD is unpleasant emotional experience because of powerful anxiety that accompanies both obsessions & compulsions
Obsessive thoughts are unpleasant & frightening and anxiety that goes w/ these can be overwhelming
Urge to repeat behaviour creates anxiety

Question 6

Accompanying depression

Emotional characteristics of OCD

Answer 6

OCD is often accompanied by depression
Anxiety can be accompanied by low mood & lack of enjoyment in activities
Compulsive behaviour tends to bring some relief from anxiety but this is temporary

Question 7

Guilt & Digust

Emotional characteristics of OCD

Answer 7

OCD involves negative emotions like irrational guilt, for example over minor moral issues, or digust, which may be directed against something external like dirt or at the self

Question 8

Obsessive thoughts

Cognitive characteristics of OCD

Answer 8

For 90% of people w/ OCD the major cog feature of their condition is obsessive thoughts
These vary considerably from person to person but are always unpleasant
Examples of recurring thoughts are worries of being contaminated by dirt & germs, or certainty that a door has been left unlocked or impulses to hurt someone

Question 9

Cognitive coping strategies

Cognitive characteristics of OCD

Answer 9

People also adopt cog coping strats to deal w/ obsessions
E.g. a religous peorson tormented by obsessive guilt may response by praying
This may help manage anxiety but can make person appear abnormal to others & can distract them from everyday tasks

Question 10

Insight into excessive anxiety

Cognitive characteristics of OCD

Answer 10

People w/ OCD are aware that their obsessions & compulsions are not rational
However, people w/ OCD experience catastrophic thoughts about worse case scenarios that may result if their anxieties were justified
Also tend to be hyper vigilant