OCD - AQA Psychology

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) — AQA A-Level Psychology

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterised by obsessions (persistent, intrusive thoughts, images or urges) and compulsions (repetitive behaviours or mental acts performed to reduce anxiety caused by the obsessions). Individuals with OCD often recognise that their thoughts and behaviours are irrational, yet feel unable to control them. The disorder can be highly distressing and time-consuming, significantly interfering with daily functioning.
In the AQA specification, OCD is studied as an example of a mental disorder within psychopathology. Students learn about its behavioural, emotional and cognitive characteristics:
Behavioural: compulsive behaviours (repetitive actions, rituals), avoidance of triggers
Emotional: anxiety, distress, feelings of guilt and disgust
Cognitive: obsessive thoughts, awareness of irrationality, catastrophic thinking
OCD is also used to explore biological explanations (genetic and neural factors) and biological treatments (drug therapy using SSRIs).