OCD

Question 1

what is ocd?

Answer 1

a condition characterised by obsessions and/or compulsive behaviour

Question 2

What are behavioural characteristics of ocd?

Answer 2

1. compulsions
   - compulsions are repetitive = feel to repeat a behaviour
   - compulsions reduce anxiety produced by obsessive thoughts
2. avoidance= attempt to reduce the anxiety by keeping away triggers however this avoidance can lead people to avoid very ordinary situations such as emptying their rubbish bin.

Question 3

emotional characteristics of ocd ?

Answer 3

1. anxiety and distress
2. accompanying depression = anxiety can be accompanied by low mood and lack of enjoyment in activities
3. guilt and disgust.

Question 4

cognitive charactertistics of ocd

Answer 4

1. obssesive thoughts = thoughts that reoccur over again and again.
2. cognitive strategies to deal with obsessions = adopt cognitive coping stratgies. but can make a person appear abnormal to others and can distract them from everyday task
3. insight into excessive anxiety = people suffering from OCD are aware that their obessions and complusions are not rational. however still experience castraphobic thoughts about the worse case scenario. they also tend to be hypervigiliant ie they maintain constant alertness.