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Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder consists of
obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors that
can manifest itself in various ways. Obsessive
thoughts are recurrent thoughts, impulses, or
pictures that are experienced as intruding,
non-voluntary and distressing. Obsessive thoughts
can be elicited by other thoughts or by external
stimuli that remind of the content in the obsessive
thoughts. Obsessive thoughts are usually considered
as repulsive, they elicit severe distress and
anxiety, and are usually difficult to control or
push away. Obsessive thoughts are usually perceived
as meaningless. The content can cause worry, be
repulsive, be considered as indecent etc. The most
common type of obsessive thought manifests itself
in the form of "what-if-thoughts" (for example,
"what if a fire starts", "what if i get infected by
a dangerous disease").
Compulsive acts or behaviors consist of repeated
behaviors (for example, to clean, repeat acts) or
thoughts (for example, to count, control, think
certain words) that a person feels compelled to
perform as a response to an obsessive thought or
rigid rituals. One feels driven to repeat the
compulsive behavior again and again with the
purpose of gaining relief from the distress and
anxiety. There are various types of compulsive acts
or behaviors: (1) compulsive cleaning, (2)
compulsive controlling behaviors, (3) confirmation
seeking compulsive behaviors, (4) compulsive
hoarding, (5) cognitive neutralizations.
In obsessive-compulsive disorder one is aware of
that the obsessive thoughts are unreasonable and
the compulsive behaviors are unnecessary, but one
cannot resist to conduct the behaviors. OCD usually
results in a severe suffering, a diminished social
and occupational functioning and shame. Examples of
consequences are that one comes constantly much
late to work or that one cannot socialize with
people due to the time and energy that the
obsessive thoughts and behaviors take. Compulsive
behaviors can lead to physical injuries due to for
example a continuous washing of the hands.
© Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) specialist in
Stockholm, 2005-2008, www.kbterapi.se
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