OCD Flashcards
1
Q
What is OCD?
A
An anxiety disorder characterised by obsessions and/or compulsions
2
Q
What is the difference between obsessions and compulsions?
A
- Obsessions are recurrent persistent unwanted intrusive thoughts whereas compulsions are a repetitive behaviour or mental act
- Obsessions lead to anxiety whereas compulsions reduce anxiety
Obsessions can be neutralised through another thought/action
Compulsions are often excessive and unrealistic
3
Q
What are the cognitive characteristics of OCD?
A
- Recurrent and persistent thoughts: sufferers experience constantly repated obsessive thoughts, images, and ideas of an intrusive nature. They are uncontrollable and cause distress
- Awareness: sufferers are aware that their obsessions are irrational. Despite knowing this, they exoeruence catastrophic thoughts about worst case scenarios that could result if their anxieties were justified
- Selective attention: increased awareness of source obsession in new situations
- Increased awareness of certain stimuli (causing obsessions) while ignoring other equally relevant stimuli
- Hypervigilance: sufferers are constantly on the lookout for both real and imagined threats. Hyperaware of their surroundings scanning for potential danger at all times
- Catastophic thinking: people with OCD may assume that the worst case scenario will happen if they don’t perform their compulsions
4
Q
What are the behavioural characteristics of OCD?
A
- Compulsions are repetitive: sufferers feel compelled to repeat behaviours in response to their obsessions
- Compulsions reduce anxiety: most compulsions are done in an attempt to manage (reduce) anxiety caused by obsessions
5
Q
What are the emotional characteristics of OCD?
A
- Anxiety and distress: obsessive thoughts are unpleasant and frightening and cause overwhelming anxiety. Urge to repeat a behaviour (a compulsion) causes anxiety
- Guilt and disgust: sufferers often feel irrational guilt over minor moral issues or disgust towards external objects like dirt
