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Obsessive-compulsive Disorder involves "obsessions" (recurring
thoughts, impulses or images that cause anxiety or distress), "compulsions"
(repetitive behaviors or mental acts that a person feels driven
to do in order to reduce distress or to avoid some feared event
or situation), or both.
Typical obsessions include fears of being contaminated by germs
or poison, fears of causing harm to oneself or others, and fears
of committing some unacceptable action. Often the obsessive thoughts
are opposite to the person’s value system (e.g. a highly religious
woman fears she will commit blasphemy; a loving father fears he
will kill his child).
Compulsions, which also are known as "rituals, " can
be either overt acts (such as repeatedly checking that a stove has
been turned off) or mental acts (such as silently repeating a prayer).
Typical compulsions include excessive washing and cleaning, checking,
seeking reassurance, hoarding objects and insisting that things
be put in a specific order or pattern.
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