psychopathology: OCD Flashcards
What type of disorder is obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)?
Anxiety disorder.
What are obsessions in the context of OCD?
Unwelcome thoughts, images, urges, worries or doubts that repeatedly appear in your mind.
How do obsessions in OCD affect a person?
They can make you feel very anxious.
What are compulsions in OCD?
Repetitive activities that you do to reduce the anxiety caused by the obsession.
Give an example of a compulsion in OCD.
Repeatedly checking a door is locked.
True or False: Compulsions are intended to increase anxiety in OCD.
False.
state the behavioural characteristics
- compulsions
- avoidance
explain compulsions
Compulsions are repetitive behaviours
for example washing hands
they reduce anxiety for example watching hands to reduce fear of germs
explain avoidance
Attempt to reduce anxiety by keeping away from situations that trigger it. For example sufferers who wash compulsively may avoid coming into contact with germs. This avoidance can lead to people avoiding ordinary situations like emptying their bins
state the emotional characteristics
- anxiety and stress
- accompanying depression
- guilt and disgust
explain anxiety and distress
Obsessive thoughts are unpleasant and frightening and the anxiety that goes with these can be overwhelming. The urge to repeat a behaviour (compulsion) creates anxiety
explain accompanying depression
OCD is often accompanied by depression, so anxiety can be accompanied by low mood and lack of enjoyment in activities. Compulsive behaviour tends to bring some relief from anxiety but this is temporary
explain guilt and disgust
Irrational guilt. They more also feel
disgust towards the self or something external like the trigger e.g. dirt.
state the cognitive characteristics
- obsessive thoughts
- hyper vigilance
- insight into excessive anxiety
explain obsessive thoughts
Persistent and intrusive thoughts which cause distress. They vary from person to person but are always extremely
unpleasant. E.g. that they might hurt
someone, or a door is unlocked. One being catastrophic thinking: Thinking of the worst possible outcome
explain hyper vigilance
Increased awareness of source of
obsession in new situations. Constant state of high arousal, which eventually leads to exhaustion
explain insight into excessive anxiety
They are aware that their thoughts are irrational (if they didn’t have this insight they would be diagnosed with another
disorder)
