– OCD is classed as an anxiety disorder
– The disorder has two main components: obsessions and compulsions
– Obsessions are persistent thoughts
– Compulsions are repetitive behaviours
BEHAVIOURAL
COMPULSIONS
– Sufferers of OCD feel compelled to repeat a behaviour.
– A common example is hand washing.
– Compulsions reduce anxiety
– Around 10% of sufferers show compulsive behaviour alone and have no obsessions
– The vast majority of compulsive behaviours are performed in an attempt to manage the anxiety produced by obsessions.
AVOIDANCE
– Some sufferers attempt to reduce anxiety by keeping away from the situations that trigger it
– This can in itself interfere with leading a normal life.
EMOTIONAL
ANXIETY AND DISTRESS:
– Powerful anxiety accompanies both obsessions and compulsions.
– Obsessive thoughts are unpleasant and frightening and the anxiety that goes with these can be overwhelming.
– The urge to repeat a behaviour causes anxiety
ACCOMPANYING DEPRESSION
– 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.
GUILT AND DISGUST
– OCD sometimes involves other negative emotions such as irrational guilt or disgust
– May be directed against something external like guilt or at the self.
COGNITIVE
OBSESSIVE THOUGHTS
– For around 90% of OCD sufferers the major cognitive feature of their condition is obsessive thoughts.
– These vary from person to person but are always unpleasant.
– An example is worries of being contaminated by dirt and germs.
COGNITIVE STRATEGIES TO DEAL WITH OBSESSIONS
– People respond to obsessions by adopting cognitive coping strategies.
– These may help manage anxiety but can make the person appear abnormal to others and can distract them from everyday tasks.
INSIGHT INTO EXCESSIVE ANXIETY
– People suffering from OCD are aware that their obsessions and compulsions are not rational.
– In fact this is necessary for a diagnosis of OCD as if someone believed their obsessive thoughts were based on reality that would be a symptom of a quite different form of a mental disorder.