OCD Characteristics

Question 1

What is OCD?

Answer 1

• It is an anxiety disorder where sufferers experience persistent and intrusive thoughts occurring as obsessions, compulsions, or a combination of the two

Question 2

Obsession

Answer 2

• A persistent thought, idea, impulse or image that experienced repeatedly, feels intrusive and causes anxiety
• They are internal components because they are thoughts

Question 3

Compulsion

Answer 3

• A repetitive and rigid behaviour or mental act that a person feels driven to perform in order to prevent or reduce anxiety
• They are external components because they are behaviours

Question 4

Clinical characteristics of OCD

Answer 4

Emotional- how a person feels when experiencing the anxiety which accompanies the obsessions/compulsions

Behavioural- how a person acts which typically leads to the carrying out of repetitive, impulsive actions to reduce anxiety

Cognitive- how a person thinks

Question 5

Behavioural characteristics of OCD

Answer 5

Compulsions:
- Compulsions are repetitive. They feel compelled to repeat a behaviour
- Compulsions reduce anxiety. Vast majority of behaviours are performed in an attempt to manage anxiety produced by obsessions

• Avoidance. They attempt to reduce anxiety by keeping away from situations that trigger it

Question 6

Emotional characteristics of OCD

Answer 6

• Anxiety and distress. It is regarded as an unpleasant emotional experience due to the anxiety that accompanies both obsessions and compulsions
• Accompanying depression. It is often accompanied by depression, so anxiety can be accompanied by low mood and lack of enjoyment of activities
• Guilt and disgust. It involves other negative emotions such as irrational guilt or disgust

Question 7

Cognitive characteristics of OCD

Answer 7

• Obsessive thoughts. Around 90% of OCD sufferers say the major feature is obsessive thoughts. These vary between people, but are always unpleasant
• Cognitive strategies to deal with obsessions. This involves cognitive coping strategies to manage anxiety
• Insight into excessive anxiety. This involves sufferers experiencing catastrophic thoughts about the worst case scenarios that might result if their anxieties were justified