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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

See Also:
Obsessive-Compuslive Disorder: Introduction & Overview
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Signs& Symptoms
Obsessive-Compuslive Disorder: Causes & Risk Factors
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Treatment Options

Signs & Symptoms

The two main symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder is the presence of recurrent obsessions and compulsions.

The typical obsessions in people with OCD include:

  • Fear of contamination with dirt, germs, or poison.
  • Aggressive or horrific impulses (towards children or family members).
  • Fear of thinking evil or sinful thoughts.
  • Need for order, symmetry, or exactness.
  • Excessive, repeated doubt.
  • Sexual imagery.
However, each individual is obsessed by different thoughts, images, impulses, or fears. Some of the most common obsessions include:
  • Fear of contamination by shaking hands or touching objects that others have touched.
  • Excessive doubts if the door is locked or the stove is turned off.
  • Repeated thoughts of hurting someone in a traffic accident.
  • Intense distress when objects are not in order, lined up properly, or facing the right way.
  • Images of hurting the children.
  • Impulses to shout obscenities in inappropriate situations.
  • Thoughts of performing sexual acts the person dislikes.
 

These obsessions trigger feelings of anxiety, discomfort, or disgust. In order to reduce the distress or anxiety, individuals with OCD develop elaborate diverse rituals, known as compulsions. The typical compulsions in individuals with OCD include:

  • Excessive washing
  • Excessive cleaning
  • Counting
  • Ordering objects
  • Repeating an action over and over

The most common compulsions displayed by individuals with OCD include:

  • Excessive washing until the skin is raw.
  • Repeatedly checking the door or stove knobs to make sure the door is lock or the stove is turned off.
  • Counting in different patterns.
  • Repeating words, phrases in a specific manner.
  • Eating food in a specific order.
  • Constantly arranging things by a specific design.
  • Collecting or hoarding items with no apparent value.
  • Asking for constant assurance.

Other symptoms that may be related to OCD are:

  • Pulling out strands of hair or eyebrows.
  • Severe extreme nail biting.
  • An unfounded fear of suffering from a serious medical condition.
  • Avoidance behavior.

See Also:
Obsessive-Compuslive Disorder: Introduction & Overview
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Signs& Symptoms
Obsessive-Compuslive Disorder: Causes & Risk Factors
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Treatment Options

Article by Alina Morrow
MS Psychology
Medical Writer
OmniMedicalSearch.com

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Page Last Modified:
09/07/2010