Psychopathology - characteristics of OCD

Question 1

What is the behavioural characteristic of OCD?

Answer 1

• compulsive behaviours which are repetitive and reduce anxiety
• sufferers typically repeat behaviour many more times than is necessary
  e.g. washing their hands many times
• compulsive behaviours are often to reduce anxiety, for e.g. repeated checking that the doors are locked to reduce the fear of being burgled

Question 2

What is the primary emotional characteristic of OCD?

Answer 2

• the primary emotional characteristic of OCD is anxiety
• both the obsessive thought and the accompanying obsessive compulsion create anxiety

Question 3

What are the cognitive characteristics of OCD?

Answer 3

• include both obsessive thoughts and cognitive strategies to deal with them
• obsessive thoughts often relate to cleanliness but also may relate to guilt caused by past behaviour or thoughts
• this in turn can lead to cognitive strategies to deal with such thoughts, such as praying