OCD
OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER
DSM-IV Criteria
 Unwanted repetitive thoughts (obsessions) and/or
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actions (compulsions).
Soon realizes that obsession or compulsions are
excessive or unreasonable. NOTE: Does not apply to
children.
Interferes with normal routine
Can’t link other disorders such as depression,
anorexia, dissociative identity disorder, etc. to OCD
Disturbance is not due to the direct psychological
effects of a substance (e.g., drug abuse, or
medication) or a general medication condition
Causes/Symptoms
Causes
 Family history
 Chemical Imbalances
Symptoms
 Excessive double-checking of things
 Counting, tapping, repeating certain words, or doing
other senseless things to reduce anxiety
 Accumulating junk
 Spending a lot of time cleaning and washing
 Organizing or arranging things “just so”
Characteristics (1 of 2)
Obsession
 OCD obsessions are repetitive, persistent and involuntary, unwanted ideas,
thoughts, images or impulses that seem insensible. These obsessions
usually interfere daily thinking and activities.
 Obsession symptoms and signs may include:
1.
Fear of contamination by shaking hands or touching door knobs
2.
Doubts that you've locked the door or turned off an appliance
3.
Intense stress when objects are not symmetrical or orderly
4.
Images of hurting loved ones
5.
Impulses to shout obscene things in inappropriate situations
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Avoidance of situations that can trigger obsessions, such as shaking
hands
7.
Replaying sexual images in your mind
8.
Dermatitis due to frequent hand washing
9.
Skin lesions due to constant picking of the skin
10. Hair loss or bald spots caused by hair pulling
Characteristics (2 of 2)
Compulsion
 OCD compulsions are repetitive behaviors that one feels
they need to perform in order to reduce their anxiety.
 Compulsion symptoms and signs may include:
1. Hand washing until the skin becomes raw
2. Checking doors repeatedly to make sure they are locked
3. Repeatedly checking to see if appliances have been
turned off
4. Counting in certain patterns
5. Arranging various objects so that they face the same
way, or are symmetrical
Other Relevant Information
 Obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors cross
the fine line between normality and disorder when
they become so persistent that they interfere with
everyday living and cause stress.
PTSD
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
DSM-IV Criteria
 Haunting memories, nightmares, social withdrawal,
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jumpy anxiety, and/or insomnia, that lingers for weeks
or more after a traumatic experience.
Avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma. Avoids
thoughts, feelings, conversations, activities, places, and
people that associates with the trauma.
Inability to recall an important aspect of the trauma.
Symptoms of in creased arousal such as insomnia.
Duration of disturbance is longer than one month.
The disturbance causes clinically significant distress or
impairment in social, occupational, or other important
areas of functioning.
Causes/Symptoms
Causes
 any trauma, life threatening event that causes intense fear
Symptoms
 The symptoms of PTSD can occur suddenly and they can be
triggered by something that reminds you of the original
traumatic event. There are three main types of symptoms:
1. Re- experiencing the traumatic event- flashbacks,
nightmares, rapid breathing, sweating, and muscle tension.
2. Avoiding reminders of the trauma- feeling detached from
others and emotionally numb, loss of interest in activities,
and avoidances of places that remind you of the trauma.
3. Increased anxiety and emotional arousal- difficulty of falling
or staying asleep, outbursts of anger, and difficulty
concentrating.
Characteristics
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Recurrent and persistent recollections of the traumatic event.
Recurrent dreams of the event.
Acting or feeling as if the traumatic event is happening all over again.
Intense distress related to internal or external events that remind one of the
traumatic occurrence.
Efforts to avoid thoughts, feelings, or conversations associated with the trauma.
Efforts to avoid activities, places, or people that might be associated with the
trauma.
An inability to remember important aspects of the traumatic event.
Decreased interest or participation in certain activities.
Feelings of detachment or estrangement from others.
The inability to have certain feelings.
A sense that time is short, and there is no future.
Difficulty falling and/or staying asleep.
Inability or angry outbursts.
Difficulty concentrating.
Hyper-vigilance.
Other Relevant Information
 Many combat veterans, accident and disaster survivors and
sexual assault victims including an estimated two-thirds of
prostitutes have experienced symptoms of PTSD.