Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Analysis

Obsessions can be defined as the unwanted, intrusive thoughts or feelings that occur, in which an individual try’s to avoid (Barlow et al, 2015). Compulsions can be defined as the thoughts or actions one takes in order to suppress these obsessions to provide relief (Barlow et al, 2015). When combining obsessions and compulsions together, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is created. This mental disorder can be defined as an anxiety disorder that is characterized by having repetitive obsessions, and/or repetitive, ritualistic behaviors or mental acts to reduce the levels of anxiety (Block et al, 2008). Conversely, PTSD is the condition in which an individual has intense feelings of terror, evasion and helplessness because of a traumatic stressor that was either experienced, or witnessed.

OCD has a four-factor symptom structure which include; symmetry factors, such as ordering and repeating; forbidden thoughts factors, as in sexual and religious obsessions; cleaning factors; and hoarding factors (Bloch et al, 2008). Individuals usually receive intrusive thoughts in time of worry and may engage in ritualistic behaviours when under stress, for example during exam season for students, or war veterans who have PTSD. The difference in terms of the obsessions and compulsions one faces in OCD and in PTSD is the amount of excessiveness on a continuum (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). For OCD, some individual’s obsessions reach to a point of delusional beliefs and their compulsions affect day-to-day life. In PTSD, these symptoms are not as severe, unless both mental disorders are co-occurring which is possible. For someone who has PTSD, it is not unlikely for them to take part in OCD behaviour to calm down or relieve stress. In terms of causes, PTSD is solely based on experience where as the cause for OCD is still being