6B - Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Thursday, February 25, 2021
9:08 AM
*Mini-lecture 1 : Intrusive thoughts, obsessions, and compulsions
Terms related to OCD
Intrusive thoughts: thoughts that pop into your head and you feel the need to act on it
o No desire to do so, but a weird thought
o A person with OCD will continue to think (and be afraid) of the intrusive
thoughts
Obsessions: Recurrent, persistent intrusive thoughts, which the individual finds highly
anxiety-provoking
o Very distressing to individual
Compulsions: Repetitive, ritualistic actions or thoughts designed to neutralize obsessive
thoughts
o Geared toward reducing anxiety of thought
o Must be performed in subjectively 'right' way
Obsessions and compulsions 'categories'
Forbidden thoughts or actions (aggression/sexuality
o Compulsions: Checking; avoidance; seeking reassurance
Hoarding (fear of throwing anything away)
o Compulsions: Saving low-value objects (nothing with sentimental value)
Cleaning and contamination (germs; contaminants)
o Compulsions: Excessive washing; use of gloves/masks
o Beyond scope of what is appropriate/needed for situation
Symmetry/exactness (need for things to be "just right")
o Compulsions: Putting things in order; repetitive rituals
Ego-syntonic vs. ego-dystonic
Many psychological disorders can be seen as ego-dystonic:
o The associated feelings, behaviors, or instincts are distressing and/or
inconsistent with one's self-concept (this is true of OCD!)
Other psychological disorders/symptoms are ego-syntonic:
Thursday, February 25, 2021
9:08 AM
*Mini-lecture 1 : Intrusive thoughts, obsessions, and compulsions
Terms related to OCD
Intrusive thoughts: thoughts that pop into your head and you feel the need to act on it
o No desire to do so, but a weird thought
o A person with OCD will continue to think (and be afraid) of the intrusive
thoughts
Obsessions: Recurrent, persistent intrusive thoughts, which the individual finds highly
anxiety-provoking
o Very distressing to individual
Compulsions: Repetitive, ritualistic actions or thoughts designed to neutralize obsessive
thoughts
o Geared toward reducing anxiety of thought
o Must be performed in subjectively 'right' way
Obsessions and compulsions 'categories'
Forbidden thoughts or actions (aggression/sexuality
o Compulsions: Checking; avoidance; seeking reassurance
Hoarding (fear of throwing anything away)
o Compulsions: Saving low-value objects (nothing with sentimental value)
Cleaning and contamination (germs; contaminants)
o Compulsions: Excessive washing; use of gloves/masks
o Beyond scope of what is appropriate/needed for situation
Symmetry/exactness (need for things to be "just right")
o Compulsions: Putting things in order; repetitive rituals
Ego-syntonic vs. ego-dystonic
Many psychological disorders can be seen as ego-dystonic:
o The associated feelings, behaviors, or instincts are distressing and/or
inconsistent with one's self-concept (this is true of OCD!)
Other psychological disorders/symptoms are ego-syntonic:
