Abstract

A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY ANALYZING THE VARIOUS OBSESSIONS AND COMPULSIONS SEEN IN PATIENTS WITH OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER

Dr. Rathai Rajagopalan*

ABSTRACT

OCD is a chronic and debilitating condition that causes a lot of anxiety to the affected individuals. Obsessions and compulsions constitute the core clinical features of OCD. Obsessions are characterized by recurrent and persistent thoughts, images or impulses that are perceived as intrusive and inappropriate. Compulsions are acts that are performed to relieve the person of their anxiety. Due to the embarrassing spectrum of symptoms seen in this disorder patients feel shy to report their condition and the disorder remains undetected for years together causing a lot of mental anguish. In the following study it was noted that fear of contamination was the most common obsession and cleaning and washing was the most common compulsion. A combination of pharmacotherapy along with behavioural therapy forms the cornerstone of treating obsessive compulsive disorder.

Keywords: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Obsession, Compulsion.