OCD

Question 1

What is OCD?

Answer 1

Obsessive thoughts

Compulsive behaviour

Question 2

How long must the symptoms be present for?

Answer 2

Must be present for 2 weeks at least

Question 3

What is the purpose of compulsive behaviour in OCD?

Answer 3

To neutralise the obsessive thoughts

Question 4

Describe the obsessive thoughts in OCD.

Answer 4

ideas, images or impulses
patient’s own thoughts
unpleasant, resisted, ego-dystonic

Question 5

Describe the compulsive behaviour in OCD.

Answer 5

repeated rituals
not enjoyable or functional
distressing and interfere with life

Question 6

What are some risk factors for OCD?

Answer 6

family history
male gender
pregnancy

Question 7

How is OCD diagnosed?

Answer 7

No initial test

Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale

Question 8

What is the treatment of OCD?

Answer 8

CBT
SSRIs
clomipramide (tricyclic antidepressant)

Question 9

What are some common obsessions in OCD?

Answer 9

fear of being contaminated 
need for symmetry or exactness
fear of causing harm to someone 
sexual obsessions 
religious obsession 
fear of behaving unacceptably 
fear of making a mistake

Question 10

What are some common compulsions in OCD?

Answer 10

counting
repeating words silently
ruminating
attempting to ‘neutralise’ thoughts