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Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Also known as OCD, Obsessive compulsive disorder
A condition in which unwanted, distressing thoughts keep returning and the person feels driven to repeat actions or mental rituals to ease the distress.
In Psychology
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is not about being tidy. It is a cycle of — unwanted thoughts, images or urges — and , the checking, washing, counting or repeating that brings brief relief and keeps the cycle going.
Core features
- that the person finds upsetting and usually knows are excessive
- Rituals that take up a lot of time or feel impossible to resist
- Common themes: contamination, harm, doubt, and in Pakistan often religious doubt about wudu or prayer
- Avoiding situations that set off the thoughts
First-line treatment is with exposure and response prevention, and/or an , which can take up to 12 weeks to help. The full article is obsessive-compulsive disorder.
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Related terms
- ObsessionObsessions, Obsessive thoughtsIn psychology, an unwanted thought, image or urge that keeps returning and causes anxiety — not an intense interest. Obsessions are one half of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
- CompulsionCompulsions, Compulsive behaviourA repeated action or mental ritual a person feels driven to do to ease the anxiety of an obsession, such as washing, checking or repeating prayers. The relief is brief, so the urge returns.
- Intrusive thoughtsUnwanted thoughts, Intrusive thoughtUnwanted thoughts, images or urges that pop into the mind uninvited, often disturbing ones. Almost everyone has them; they become a problem only when they cause great distress and take over.
- Exposure therapyGraded exposure, Exposure and response preventionA therapy in which you face feared situations, objects, sensations or memories gradually and safely until the fear fades. It is the core treatment for phobias and part of therapy for OCD, panic and PTSD.
- SSRISelective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, SSRIsSelective serotonin reuptake inhibitor: the most commonly prescribed type of antidepressant, used for depression and many anxiety conditions. Examples are sertraline, fluoxetine, escitalopram, citalopram and paroxetine.