ocd symptoms and features

Question 1

what is ocd?

Answer 1

an anxiety disorder

Question 2

features

Answer 2

• 1.2% of the population in the UK OCD at any time
• affects males and females equally
• typically begins in young adult life but can begin as early as 10

Question 3

what are the two components?

Answer 3

1. obsessions - persistent intrusive thoughts
2. compulsions - repetitive behaviours
   cycle = thought, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, temporary relief.

common obsessive thoughts include:
- fear of being contaminated
- intrusive sexually explicit or violent thoughts and images
- superstitions - excessive attention to something considered unlucky or lucky.

common compulsions include:
- spending time washing/ clesming
- excessive double checks
- counting, tapping

Question 4

symptoms

Answer 4

• emotional = anxiety and distress. sufferers are aware that their behaviour is excessive and not rational which causes embarrassment.
• behavioural = compulsive behaviours performed to reduce anxiety created by obsessions. they are repetitive. patients feel compelled to do these actions. they are excessive.
• cognitive = obsessions are reoccurring, intrusive thoughts or impulses that are perceived to be innapropriate or forbidden. for 90% of sufferes the main feature is obsessive thoughts.

Question 5

classification systems

Answer 5

= both state that obsessions and compulsions are time consuming and take up more than one hour a day and cause significant impairment to personal, family, social, education and occupational functioning.