Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Question 1

What is OCD?

Answer 1

OCD is an anxiety disorder characterised by either obsessions/compulsions.

                   obsessive thoughts 

   ↗️                                                       ↘️

Temporary OCD CYCLE Anxiety
Relief
↙️
↖️
Compulsive behaviour

Question 2

What symptoms must be present to be diagnosed with OCD?

Answer 2

According to DSM-5 the diagnosis of OCD requires the following symptoms to be present:

1. OBSESSIONS - recurrent and persistent thoughts that are intrusive, unwanted and cause anxiety and distress. Individual tries to suppress the thoughts or neutralise them with some other thought or action.
2. COMPULSIONS - repetitive behaviours (e.g. checking) or mental acts (e.g. counting) in response to an obsession. These behaviours are designed to reduce anxiety or prevent a dreadful event occurring. They are excessive and can be unrealistic.

Question 3

What is the difference between OBSESSIONS and COMPULSIONS ?

Answer 3

OBSESSIONS

• persistent thoughts
• Internal i.e. take place in the mind

WHEREAS

COMPULSIONS

• repetitive behaviours
• External I.e. it’s something you do.

Question 4

Cognitive characteristics- obsessions

Answer 4

• Recurrent and persistent thoughts 💭 - sufferers experience constantly repeated obsessive thoughts, ideas 💡 and images of an intrusive nature. - they are uncontrollable and cause distress.
• Insight into excessive anxiety - people suffering from OCD are aware they their obsessions and compulsions are not rational. This is necessary for a diagnosis for OCD. However in spite of this insight, OCD sufferers experience catastrophic thoughts about the worst case scenarios that might result if their anxieties were justified.
• catastrophic thinking = thinking of worst case scenarios ‘might catch it & die’.

Question 5

Behavioural characteristics - compulsions

Answer 5

• Repetitive behaviours - sufferers feel compelled to repeat behaviours as a response to their obsessive thoughts, ideas and images. Common examples include handwriting, counting, praying, and tidying groups of objects.
• Compulsions reduce anxiety - behaviours and mental acts are used to prevent or reduce distress and anxiety produced by obsessions. For example, compulsive checking, e.g. is door locked? Is gas appliance switched off, in response to the obsessive thought that it might have been left unscrewed. The behaviours are designed to prevent some dreaded event or situation even though they cannot realistically prevent these.

Question 6

Emotional Characteristics

Answer 6

• Anxiety and distress - obsessive thoughts are unpleasant and frightening and the anxiety that goes with these can be overwhelming. The urge to repeat a behaviour ( a compulsion) creates anxiety.
• Guilt and Disgust - OCD often involves irrational guilt, e.g. over minor moral issues or disgust which may be directed against something external like dirt or at the self.