Psychopathology L11 - The Behavioural, Emotional & Cognitive Characteristics Of OCD

Question 1

What’s OCD

Answer 1

• an anxiety disorder
• characterised by the DSM-V as a disorder whereby the patient shows repetitive behaviour (compulsions) and obsessive behaviour

Question 2

The behavioural characteristics (action)

Answer 2

• compulsive behaviours
• hinder everyday functioning
• social impairment
• repetitive
• avoidance

Question 3

The emotional characteristics (feelings)

Answer 3

• anxiety and distress
• accompanying depression
• guilt and disgust

Question 4

The cognitive characteristics (thinking)

Answer 4

• obsessions
• recognised as self-generated
• realisation of inappropriateness
• attention bias

Question 5

Compulsive behaviours

Answer 5

• Compulsive behaviours are performed to reduce the anxiety created by obsessions.
• They are repetitive and unconcealed, such as hand washing or checking things. This could include mental acts such as praying or counting.
• Patients feel they must perform these actions otherwise something dreadful might happen, and this creates anxiety.
• Some patients experience compulsions without obsessions, such as they compulsively avoid certain objects such as the cracks in the pavement.
• The behaviours are external components that can be seen by others.

Question 6

Hinder everyday functioning

Answer 6

• Having obsessive or forbidden/inappropriate ideas creates a great deal of anxiety.
• This could then lead to compulsions and repetitive behaviour (washing hands over and over again so the person is very late for work) that can seriously hinder the ability to perform everyday functions, for example the person might not be able to have a job and work effectively.

Question 7

Social impairment

Answer 7

• The anxiety levels created by the obsessions, and the performance of repetitive, compulsive behaviour might become so high that the person might not be able to conduct meaningful interpersonal relationships

Question 8

Repetitive

Answer 8

• Sufferers feel compelled to repeat behaviours over and over again as a response to their obsessive thoughts, ideas and images.
• For example they might have obsessions about dirt and feel compelled to wash their hands over and over again

Question 9

Avoidance

Answer 9

• Some OCD sufferers attempt to reduce their anxiety by avoiding situations that might trigger it.
• Sufferers who wash their hands continuously might avoid coming into contact with germs, so they might never empty their bins which can lead to further problems.

Question 10

Anxiety and distress

Answer 10

• The obsessions and compulsions are a source of considerable anxiety and distress.
• Sufferers are aware that their obsessions and compulsive behaviour are excessive and this causes feelings of embarrassment and shame.
• Sufferers might also be aware that they cannot consciously control their compulsive behaviours which leads to strong feelings of distress.

Question 11

Accompanying depression

Answer 11

• OCD is often accompanied by depression.
• Anxiety might be accompanied by low mood and a lack of enjoyment of activities.
• Compulsive behaviour tends to bring some relief from anxiety, but this is temporary.

Question 12

Guilt and disgust

Answer 12

• OCD sometimes involves other negative emotions such as irrational guilt over minor issues, or disgust which may be directed against something external like dirt or the self.

Question 13

Obsessions

Answer 13

• These are recurrent, intrusive thoughts or impulses that are perceived as inappropriate or forbidden.
• They may be frightening or embarrassing and the person might not want to share them with others. - Common obsessions or themes include ideas, doubts (have they checked the cooker is switched off?) impulses (to shout and swear in public) or images (sexual).
• These thoughts, impulses and images are not excessive worries about everyday problems; instead they are uncontrollable and cause anxiety.
• The person will realise that their obsessions are unreasonable.
• Obsessions are internal (because they are thoughts that occur internally inside the mind)

Question 14

Recognised as self generated

Answer 14

• Most sufferers understand that their obsessional thoughts, impulses and images are self invented and are not inserted externally by others

Question 15

Realisation of inappropriateness

Answer 15

Most sufferers understand their obsessive thought and compulsive behaviours are inappropriate and irrational, but they cannot consciously control or stop them.

Question 16

Attention bias

Answer 16

• Perception tends to be focused on anxiety generating stimuli.
• The sufferer might pay more attention to stimuli that creates anxiety, for instance a piece of dust on a table that has just been cleaned.
• They tend to be hyper vigilant and tend to look for things that will justify their high anxiety levels.