OCD

Question 1

What is OCD

Answer 1

An anxiety disorder where sufferers experience persistent and intrusive thoughts which they seek to ignore

Question 2

Two behavioural characteristics of OCD

Answer 2

-repetitive compulsions: anxiety reducing behaviour eg hand washing, switching on and off lights
-avoidance: avoiding situations where they may come into contact with threats eg using electrical equipment

Question 3

Three emotional characteristics of OCD

Answer 3

-anxiety: unpleasant state of inner turmoil caused by the obsessive thoughts
-guilt: OCD patients can feel guilty over minor moral issues and often need to confess these to someone
-disgust: feeling of revulsion or profound disapproval aroused often by things such a dirt

Question 4

Four cognitive characteristics of OCD

Answer 4

• intrusive obsessions (persistent uncontrollable recurring thoughts which they are aware are irrational)
  -hypervigilance (enhanced state of sensory sensitivity to threats)
  -catastrophic thinking (irrational belief that disasters may occur)
  -awareness of irrationality (aware that their obsessions are irrational)