Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) involves the following different types of problematic behaviors:
- Checking things repeatedly: for example, whether a door is locked;
- Rituals: performing routines repeatedly, for example, hand washing;
- Obsessions: repeatedly having certain intrusive and distressing thoughts, often of violent, religious, or sexual nature.
In individuals with OCD, the activities described above are performed to a degree that negatively affects the person’s life, often taking up more than an hour per day. Adults with OCD will often be aware that the activities do not benefit them, but they will nevertheless feel the compulsion to perform them. OCD is often treated with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) sometimes assisted with medication.
