Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Characteristics
Biological Treatment: Drug Therapy
Biological Explanations: Neural
Biological Explanations: Genetic
Emotional
Behavioural
Cognitive
Compulsions
Avoidance
Anxiety and Distress
Depression
Guilt and Disgust
Obsessive Thoughts
Coping
Strategies
sufferers feel compelled to repeat a certain behaviour
compulsions reduce anxiety
may attempt to reduce anxiety by avoiding situations that trigger it
may interfere with everyday life
OCD often accompanied by depression - so anxiety as well as low mood / lack of enjoyment in activities
OCD regarded particularly unpleasant emotional experience - powerful anxieties are overwhelming
negative emotions such as irrational guilt / disgust may be directed at something external - e.g dirt or themselves
Insight into Excessive Anxiety
around 90% of sufferers - major cognitive feature is obsessive thoughts
vary from each individual but are always unpleasant
people respond to obsessions by adopting cognitive coping strategies
e.g religious person tormented but obsessive guilt may respond by praying
may help manage anxiety but can affect every-day life
sufferers are aware that obsessions are not rational (necessary for OCD diagnosis)
sufferers tend to be hypervigilant (always on alert)