07/07/2023
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder which is categorised by an individual experiencing obsessive thoughts (obsessions).
These obsessions are usually recurring and can be intrusive thoughts, ideas, or sensations. Because of these obsessions, this can drive an individual to perform certain actions, often repetitively to alleviate the anxiety that the obsessions have caused (compulsions).
In order to be diagnosed with OCD, the symptoms must meet the criteria stated in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual and Mental Disorders (DSM-5).
The criteria states that there must be a presence of obsessions, compulsions, or both. Obsessions are defined by:
Recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges, or images that are experienced, at some time during the disturbance, as intrusive, unwanted, and in most individuals, cause marked anxiety or distress.
The individual attempting to ignore or suppress these thoughts, urges, or images, or to neutralise them with some thought or actions (by performing a compulsion).
Compulsions in the DSM-5 criteria are defined by:
Repetitive behaviours or mental acts that the person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession, or according to the rules that must be applied rigidly.
These behaviours or mental acts are performed in order to prevent or reduce distress or preventing some dreaded event or situation. However, these behaviours or mental acts either are not connected in a realistic way with what they are designed to neutralise or prevent or are clearly excessive.
To meet the criteria, the obsessions or compulsions have to be time consuming, such as taking more than one hour per day, or cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
Finally, for a diagnosis of OCD, the disturbances should not be better explained by other conditions such as generalised anxiety disorder or Autism. (via Simply Psychology)
https://www.simplypsychology.org/ocd.html
