Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder that affects about 1-2% of the population. People with OCD experience both obsessions and compulsions.
Obsessions are unwanted and disturbing thoughts, images, or impulses that recur and persist despite efforts to ignore or confront them.
Compulsions are deliberate behaviours (e.g. washing, checking, ordering) or mental acts (e.g. praying, counting, repeating phrases) that are carried out to reduce the anxiety caused by the obsessions.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a distressing and debilitating condition, which tends to be chronic and may become worse without appropriate treatment and support. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is often compounded by depression, and other anxiety conditions including social anxiety, panic disorder and separation anxiety. Conditions related to OCD include compulsive hoarding, trichotillomania (compulsive hair pulling) and body dysmorphic disorder (excessive concern over a part of the body).