OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD)

In OCD, individuals are plagued by persistent, recurring thoughts (obsessions) that reflect exaggerated anxieties or fears; typical obsessions include worry about being contaminated or fears of behaving improperly or acting violently. The obsessions may lead an individual to perform a ritual or routine (compulsions) such as washing hands, repeating phrases, or hoarding to relieve the anxiety caused by the obsession.