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What is an Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?
Obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders are a group of similar psychiatric disorders characterized by repetitive thoughts, distressing emotions, and compulsive behaviors. The specific types of thoughts, emotions, and behaviors vary according to each disorder.
Some examples of these disorders include:
1. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
2. Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD).
3. Hoarding disorder.
4. Hair-pulling disorder (trichotillomania).
5. Skin-picking disorder (excoriation).
Obsessions are recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges, or images that are experienced as intrusive and unwanted. Common obsessional themes include:
Because obsessions are unwanted, they create anxiety and distress when they occur. To reduce this discomfort people perform compulsions.
Compulsions are behaviors or mental acts that a person feels "driven" to perform in response to an obsession. Common compulsions include:
Obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders share many similar features. However, there are also important differences. The following example illustrates the importance of these differences.
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