Obsessive Compulsive
Disorders
OCD
Think
• Do you ever leave the house and think
“dammit did I lock the door”?
• Do you ever go upstairs and think “I must
go check I definitely turned the cooker
off”…
• Would you say the above are examples of
obsessive thoughts and compulsive
behaviours?
Facts
• Obsessive compulsive disorder is much
more distressing affecting 2 % population
it is a very distressing disorder and will
interfere with your daily functioning.
Complete the questionnaire
• How many have you ticked yes?
• Keep the test – we will look at it again in a
moment to decide on examples of different
types of OCD
Obsessions
• Obsessions are persistent and recurring
thoughts, ideas, images or impulses that
seem irrational but intrude the mind.
• A common example is an obsessive
thought about contamination of germs.
Compulsions
• These are the repetitive behaviours and
rituals that the individual feels compelled
to perform to reduce the anxiety caused by
the obsessive thought.
• For example They may feel compelled to
wash their hands 100 times a day,
sometimes with abrasive cleaners to
reduce anxiety of contamination.
Sometimes
• About 20% of people with OCD only have
the obsessions – and these obsessive
thoughts are often concerned with causing
harm to a loved one.
Read the following
Janet, a homemaker, has become overwhelmed
with thoughts of forgetting things. She constantly
checks to see if she has locked her car doors. It
takes her up to fifteen minutes and multiple
checks to be able to park her car and get to her
destination. Recently, she has started leaving
work in the middle of the day to check her car
locks. These rituals have grown more time
consuming, and Janet worries that her actions
are beginning to affect her life negatively.
Read the following
Charles, an artist, has trouble throwing anything
away. Over the years, he has collected baseball
cards, magazines, newspapers, and other items.
His apartment is so cluttered that he has a hard
time walking through it. Sometimes he finds
himself saving junk mail and other things he
knows he will never need. The thought of
throwing these things out makes Charles
anxious, although he worries that eventually
there will be no space for him to live comfortably.
Read the following
Andrew, a nurse, is obsessed with germs. His
profession dictates that he wash his hands
routinely, but Andrew often washes his hands
seventy-five times a day. He is terrified of getting
sick, and working in a hospital leaves him
plagued with thoughts of deadly contamination.
When he arrives home from work, he takes off
his clothing in the laundry room. He believes he
is contaminated, and for this reason he spends
over an hour in the shower before relaxing in his
home.
Checkers
Checkers feel compelled to check objects such as door
locks and “off” settings on household appliances. They live
with an excessive, irrational fear that harm will be brought
to themselves or others because of a failure to check and
recheck things. They often visualize horrific catastrophes
in which they are to blame for a lack of responsibility.
Checkers often develop elaborate checking rituals that
make it difficult for them complete daily tasks.
Washers and Cleaners
Washers and cleaners have an irrational fear of
contamination. They compulsively avoid potential
contaminants. They have obsessions regarding disease
spread by dirt, germs, viruses, and foreign substances.
They live with the constant dread of becoming
contaminated or contaminating others. Washers and
Cleaners often wash and clean their hands, clothes, and
houses countless times a day, though they never feel
clean or “safe” from contaminants.
Orderers
Orderers are focused on arranging things in the
“right” way. Often, they must organize things in an
exact, particular, or “perfect” way before
beginning daily tasks. They become extremely
distressed if their things are moved, touched, or
rearranged.
Obsessionals
Obsessionals experience unwanted, intrusive and
horrific thoughts and images of causing harm to
others. Many Obsessionals engage in repetitive
thoughts such as praying, counting, or repeating
certain words, in order to counteract their
disturbing thoughts.
Hoarders
Hoarders collect insignificant items and have
difficulty throwing away things most people would
consider to be of no value. Hoarders often have
The difference between
Obsessions and compulsions….
An obsession is an unwanted thought
whereas a compulsion is an act driven to
reduce the anxiety associated with the
thoughts.
Symptoms of OCD
• Intense and irrational feelings of fear and
anxiety, which may be a severe panic attack
• Avoidance behaviour – where the person may
engage in extreme and complicated behaviours
In order to avoid the object or situation that
causes the panic attacks
• OCD have a gradual onset or may happen very
quickly as a result of a particular experience
Diagnosis for OCD
• Either Obsessions or compulsions are
present on most days of the week for a
period of at least two weeks
• The obsessions or compulsions cause
distress and interfere with the individuals
daily functioning (time wasting)
• The O or C are not the result of other
mental disorders or mood disorders.