Category: Anxiety Disorders Source: DSM-IV TR

Characterized by intrusive thoughts that produce anxiety, and by repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing anxiety Combination of thoughts and behaviors Compulsions = tasks or “rituals”

Obsessions are: Recurrent and persistent thoughts Impulses Images that are intrusive and inappropriate Compulsions are: Repetitive behavior Mental acts Behaviors that prevent or reduce distress Behaviors or acts are not connected in a realistic way with what they are supposed to neutralize

Repetitive hand washing Extensive hoarding Preoccupation with sexual or aggressive impulses Aversion to odd numbers Nervous habits (i.e. opening a door and closing it a certain number of times before entering a room) Symptoms are often alienating, and often cause sever emotional and economic loss

OCD is the fourth-most common mental disorder In the US 1 in 50 has OCD Equal in both genders Usually begins in late teens for males and early twenties for females 3% of college graduates develop OCD while only 2% without a college degree

Both psychological and biological factors play a role Abnormalities with the brains production of serotonin

Therapy and medication “exposure and ritual prevention” SSRIs Some extreme cases rely on “psychosurgery”