• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterized by the presence of either obsessions or compulsions, but more commonly by both symptoms

• Obsession is a repeated, intrusive, unwanted thought, image or urge that cause distressing emotions (eg anxiety and disgust)
  
  • Patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder attach to the occurrence and/or content of the intrusions. They tend to believe that these urges or thoughts are immoral or dangerous and that they are able to prevent harm to themselves or another person

• Compulsion is a repetitive behavior or mental act that the person feels driven to perform, in order to lessen the distress caused by the obsession
  • It aims to reduce harm or make the patient feel comfortable

• Anxiety is a central feature of obsessive-compulsive disorder

• There is a 1.1-1.8% prevalence of obsessive-compulsive disorder worldwide
• During adulthood, there is a slight higher prevalence in women but in childhood men are the ones commonly affected

Common Symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

• Obsessions
  
  • Fear of contamination
  • Fear of harm coming to self
  • Fear of causing harm to someone else
  • Fear of being unacceptable
  • Fear of making a mistake
  • Need for exactness, order and symmetry
  • Obsessions with the body or physical symptoms
  • Sexual and religious thoughts
  • Urge to hoard useless or worn out possessions
  • Thoughts of aggression or violence

• Compulsions
  
  • Checking
  • Cleaning or washing
  • Mental compulsions
  • Arranging, symmetry and exactness
  • Hoarding or collecting
  • Counting
  • Repeating words silently
  • Ruminate thoughts
  • Neutralizing thoughts
  • Asking for reassurance