Symptoms Of OCD Flashcards
Behavioural symptoms?
1) Compulsive behaviours: people with ocd perform compulsive behaviours to reduce the anxiety created by obsessions. They are repetitive and unconcealed such as repetitively checking something. Patients feel they must perform these actions or something bad will happen, creating anxiety. Some patients experience compulsions without obsessions such as a avoiding cracks in the pavement - compulsions are external and can be seen by others
2) Hinder Everyday functioning: compulsions that ocd patients exert to reduce obsessions can hinder the ability ti perform everyday functions for example the person may not be able to work properly
3) social impairment - compulsions may become so high that the person may not be able to conduct a good interpersonal relationship
4) repetitive - sufferers feel compelled to repeat behaviours in order to reduce anxiety caused by obsessions. E.g an individual may have obsessions about bacteria and would continually wash thier hands.
5) avoidance - ocd sufferers may try to reduce anxiety by avoiding situations that might trigger it. Sufferers who wash their hands continuously might avoid coming into contact with germs which can lead to further problems
Emotional symptoms
1) Anxiety and distress: obsessions are a source of considerable anxiety and distress. Sufferers are aware that their obsessions and compulsive behaviours are excessive, Causing feelings of embarrassment and shame. Sufferers can also be aware that that cannot consciously their compulsive behaviours which could lead to strong feelings of distress
2) Accompanying depression: OCD is often accompanied by depression as anxiety caused low mood and lack of enjoyment in activities. Compulsive behaviour brings only temporary relief
3) Guilt and disgust: OCD sometimes involves other negative emotions such as irrational guilt over small things or feelings of disgust directed towards something external like dirt or one’s self
Cognitive characteristics?
Obsessions: these are recurrent, intrusive thoughts that are perceived as inappropriate.these may be frightening or embarrassing and the person may not want to share them with others. Common obsessions include doubts ,such as if they have locked the door or not, and impulses for example to shout or swear in public. These obsessions can also be images. These obsessions are not worries about everyday problems but are uncontrollable and causes anxiety
Realisation of inappropriateness: most sufferers understand that their obsessive thoughts and compulsions are inappropriate and irrational, but they can’t consciously control or stop them.
Attention bias: perception tends to be focused on anxietŷ generating stimuli, for example a person may focus one one piece of dirt on a recently cleaned table. They tend to be hyper vigilant and look for things that will justify high anxiety levels.
