In OCD, obsessions are best described as:

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Study for the Clinical Psychology Vocabulary Test. Engage with flashcards and multiple choice questions each containing hints and explanations. Prepare effectively for your examination!

Multiple Choice

In OCD, obsessions are best described as:

Explanation:
Obsessions in OCD are intrusive, distressing thoughts, urges, or images that recur and feel unwelcome and anxiety-provoking. They’re typically ego-dystonic, meaning the person recognizes them as irrational and unwanted, yet they persist despite attempts to ignore them. This explains why the description—recurrent, persistent, intrusive thoughts, urges, or images—best captures obsessions. The difference from compulsions is that compulsions are the repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to reduce the distress caused by obsessions. Hallucinations and delusions are psychotic symptoms, not defining features of OCD, and memory deficits are not characteristic of OCD either.

Obsessions in OCD are intrusive, distressing thoughts, urges, or images that recur and feel unwelcome and anxiety-provoking. They’re typically ego-dystonic, meaning the person recognizes them as irrational and unwanted, yet they persist despite attempts to ignore them. This explains why the description—recurrent, persistent, intrusive thoughts, urges, or images—best captures obsessions. The difference from compulsions is that compulsions are the repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to reduce the distress caused by obsessions. Hallucinations and delusions are psychotic symptoms, not defining features of OCD, and memory deficits are not characteristic of OCD either.

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