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Psychology vocabulary · Mental Health Conditions

OCD

Meaning in psychology, with examples

/ˌəʊ siː ˈdiː/abbreviationCore term

In psychology, OCD means: Short for obsessive-compulsive disorder, a condition with unwanted, repeated thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive actions or mental rituals (compulsions) performed to reduce distress.

In Turkish: obsesif kompulsif bozukluk, OKB

How it is used

Used by clinicians and the public. In DSM-5 it heads the chapter on obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. The main psychological treatment is CBT with exposure and response prevention (ERP).

Example sentences

  1. Her OCD involves intrusive thoughts about contamination and hours of handwashing.

  2. Exposure and response prevention is the first-line psychological treatment for OCD.

Common collocations

  • have OCD
  • OCD symptoms
  • treatment for OCD
  • obsessions and compulsions
  • anxietyA feeling of worry, tension or fear about something that might happen, often with physical signs such as a fast heartbeat; when intense and lasting, it can be part of a disorder.
  • exposure therapyA behavioural treatment in which a person faces feared situations, objects, memories or sensations gradually and safely, so that fear decreases and avoidance stops.
  • cognitive behavioural therapyA structured, time-limited form of psychotherapy that helps people notice and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviours that keep their problems going.
  • mental disorderA clinically significant pattern of disturbance in thinking, emotion or behaviour that causes distress or problems in daily functioning, as defined in systems such as DSM-5 and ICD-11.

More terms: Mental Health Conditions

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.