Andrea G.'s blog

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by persistent, intrusive thoughts or impulses (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) (1).  Obsessions generally revolve around a central theme, the most common of which are contamination, symmetry and order, and safety and harm (2).  Compulsions are thought to arise as a mechanism for reducing the anxiety produced by unwanted obsessions.  Every time a compulsive behavior is performed, anxiety decreases, and the behavior is negatively reinforced, increasing the likelihood of a person performing the ritualistic behavior again.