Compulsions are defined as the repetition of acts or behaviors driven towards achieving an objective as the consequence of certain persistent, intrusive, unwanted streams of thoughts (i.e. obsessions), or by mental devices or certain rigid rules. These are usually mental mechanisms that attempt to filter or lessen an unwanted thought or suppress an anxiety that engulfs a person. However, the results or associated actions are completely illogical or well above the threshold. For instance, an individual afflicted with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) might wash their hands a hundred times over due to feeling that their hands are contaminated, even when there is no actual hygiene concern. In clinical settings, the ability to help the patient in managing the anxious and intrusive thoughts and understanding the irrationality of compulsions is the key factor in effective treatment.
Categories