Obsessions+and+Compulsions+Defined

**Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)** is an anxiety disorder that is characterized by the sufferer experiencing repeated obsessions and/or compulsions that interfere with the person's ability to function socially, occupationally, or educationally, either as a result of the amount of time that is consumed by the symptoms or the marked fear or other distress suffered by the person (www.medicinenet.com). ====**Currently, there is controversy over the new parameters for OCD classification in the up and coming revised 5th edition of the DSM (Mataix-Cols __et al__, 2007). It seems unlikely they will change the defining features of obsessions and compulsions.** ====



** Obsessions are defined in the DSM-IV-TR (American Psychiatric Association, 2000) by the following 4 criteria: **

 * ======Recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images are experienced at some time during the disturbance as intrusive and inappropriate and cause marked anxiety and distress. Persons with this disorder recognize the pathologic quality of these unwanted thoughts (such as fears of hurting their children) and would not act on them, but the thoughts are very disturbing and difficult to discuss with others. ======
 * ======The thoughts, impulses, or images are not simply excessive worries about real-life problems. ======
 * ======The person attempts to suppress or ignore such thoughts, impulses, or images or to neutralize them with some other thought or action. ======
 * ======The person recognizes that the obsession thoughts, impulses, or images are a product of his or her own mind (not imposed from without, as in thought insertion). ======

** Compulsions according to the DSM-IV-TR (American Psychiatric Association, 2000) are defined by the following 2 criteria: **

 * ======An individual performs repetitive behaviors (e.g., hand washing, ordering, checking) or mental acts (eg, praying, counting, repeating words silently) in response to an obsession or according to rules that must be applied rigidly. The behaviors are not a result of the direct physiologic effects of a substance or a general medical condition. ======
 * ======The behaviors or mental acts are aimed at preventing or reducing distress or preventing some dreaded event or situation. However, these behaviors or mental acts either are not connected in a way that could realistically neutralize or prevent whatever they are meant to address or they are clearly excessive. ======