Obsessive Compulsive and Related Disorders

Summary:

This note of Obsessive Compulsive and Related Disorders explains that Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental disorder characterized by unwanted obsessions and/or compulsions. A person with OCD will have recurring, anxiety-producing thoughts and repetitive, time-consuming behaviours used to reduce anxiety. OCD can be diagnosed using DSM-5 criteria, and types of OCD include hoarding and body dysmorphia disorder. Measuring OCD can be done using tools like the Maudsley Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (MOCI) or the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS). OCD can be explained through biomedical, cognitive-behavioural, and psychodynamic approaches. Treatments include SSRIs and psychological therapies like cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP).

Excerpt:

Obsessive Compulsive and Related Disorders

DEFINITION
Obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD) are mental disorders characterized by unwanted obsessions and/or compulsions. Obsessions and repeated thoughts, feelings, ideas, sensations, and compulsions might list behaviours that drive them to perform something repeatedly. Often the person uses the behaviours to get temporarily free themselves from the obsessive thoughts.

CHARACTERISTICS
A person suffering from OCD will have to occur anxiety-producing obsessive thoughts and excessive, repetitive compulsive behaviours as a way of reducing the anxiety. The behaviours, even if temporarily relieving anxiety, will not really be helpful or useful but time-consuming and energy-demanding; they can even restrict the person in their day-to-day life.

• Obsessions- impulses that are persistent and uncontrollable, unwanted and recurring thoughts. So frequent that they interfere with everyday life.
• Compulsions-repetitive behaviours or mental acts that a person performs to reduce anxiety.
  1. Washers: cleaning compulsion, afraid of contamination
  2. Checkers: repeatedly check things they might think are harmful
  3. Doubters and sinners: afraid that if everything isn’t done just right, something terrible will happen or they will be punished.
  4. Counters and arrangers are obsessed with order. They may have superstitions about certain numbers, colours, or arrangements.
  5. Hoarders: fear that something bad will happen, they throw anything away. They hoard things that they don’t need or use.

DIAGNOSIS
DSM-5 criteria for OCD diagnosis include the presence of obsessions and/or compulsions as well as the intent to suppress unwanted obsessive thoughts by performing certain behaviors.