Obsessive-compulsive disorder

A disorder characterized by the presence of persistent intrusive thoughts, images, or impulses (obsessions) that cause significant anxiety, and/or repetitive behaviors or mental rituals (compulsions) performed to reduce that anxiety. The person typically recognises the obsessions as excessive or unreasonable but is unable to stop them.

Symptoms

• Intrusive thoughts (obsessions) (also: Intrusive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions), intrusive thoughts, obsessive thoughts, thought obsessions, thought intrusions)
• Intrusive images or impulses (also: Intrusive images or impulses appearing against one's will, intrusive images or impulses, image intrusions, obsessive images, intrusive impulses)
• Repetitive checking (locks, gas, appliances) (also: Repetitive checking (locks, gas, appliances), compulsive checking, urge to check, obsessive checking, repeated checking)
• Compulsive washing or cleaning to reduce anxiety (also: Compulsive washing or cleaning to reduce anxiety, compulsive washing or cleaning, obsessive washing, urge to wash, excessive cleaning)
• Repetitive actions or rituals (compulsions) (also: Repetitive actions or rituals (compulsions), repeating actions in a set way, ritual repetition of actions, repeating behaviors, compulsive repetition)
• Compulsion to perform mental or physical rituals (also: Compulsion to perform mental or physical rituals, compulsion to perform rituals, ritual compulsion, compulsion to ritualise, obsessive rituals)
• Attempts to neutralise intrusive thoughts through action or thought (also: Attempts to neutralise obsessions, neutralising obsessions, compensating obsessions, neutralising actions, neutralising rituals)
• Anxiety increasing when trying to resist compulsions (also: anxiety accompanying obsession, tension when trying to resist, relief after performing ritual, mounting anxiety without performing compulsion, anxiety driving ritual)
• Awareness of meaninglessness of rituals (ego-dystonicity) (also: knows it is pointless, considers own thoughts absurd, obsessions experienced as alien, ego-dystonicity, preserved insight)
• Content of obsessions often related to harm to self or others (also: aggressive obsessions, thoughts about harming loved ones, fear of contaminating family, religious obsessions (blasphemous thoughts), unwanted sexual obsessions)
• Taking >=1 hour/day or causing significant distress (also: rituals take a lot of time, many hours checking, obsessions take up large part of day, significant impairment of functioning, impact on work and relationships)

ICD-11 diagnostic criteria

• obecność obsesji lub kompulsji
• obsesje są natrętne i niechciane
• kompulsje wykonywane w celu redukcji lęku
• objawy zajmują znaczną ilość czasu lub powodują cierpienie

How to recognise

In the ICD-11 framework, the core symptoms taken into account when recognising Obsessive-compulsive disorder are:

• natrętne myśli
• przymus wykonywania rytuałów

Differential diagnosis

When diagnosing Obsessive-compulsive disorder, the following ICD-11 disorders should be considered in the differential diagnosis:

• Zaburzenie dysmorficzne ciała (6B21)
• Hipochondria (6B23)
• Powtarzające się zaburzenia behawioralne skoncentrowane na ciele (6B25)
• Zaburzenie odnoszenia węchowego (6B22)
• Zaburzenie związane ze zbieraniem (patologiczne zbieractwo, syllogomania) (6B24)

Synonyms and related terms

Intrusive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions), intrusive thoughts, obsessive thoughts, thought obsessions, thought intrusions, intrusive ideas, unwanted thoughts, persistent thoughts, thoughts keep returning, cannot stop thinking about it, thoughts come back on their own, has obsessive thoughts, unwanted thoughts appear, thoughts haunt them, Intrusive images or impulses appearing against one's will, image intrusions, obsessive images, intrusive impulses, unwanted images, obsessive visualizations, intrusive fantasies, images appear in head, unwanted visions, has strange images in head, images return, has impulses they do not want, visions appear suddenly, compulsive checking, urge to check, obsessive checking

Frequently asked questions

What are the symptoms of Obsessive-compulsive disorder?

Symptoms associated with Obsessive-compulsive disorder (ICD-11 6B20) include: Intrusive thoughts (obsessions), Intrusive images or impulses, Repetitive checking (locks, gas, appliances), Compulsive washing or cleaning to reduce anxiety, Repetitive actions or rituals (compulsions), Compulsion to perform mental or physical rituals, Attempts to neutralise intrusive thoughts through action or thought, Anxiety increasing when trying to resist compulsions, Awareness of meaninglessness of rituals (ego-dystonicity), Content of obsessions often related to harm to self or others, Taking >=1 hour/day or causing significant distress.

How is Obsessive-compulsive disorder diagnosed according to ICD-11?

According to ICD-11, the diagnostic criteria for Obsessive-compulsive disorder (6B20) include: obecność obsesji lub kompulsji; obsesje są natrętne i niechciane; kompulsje wykonywane w celu redukcji lęku; objawy zajmują znaczną ilość czasu lub powodują cierpienie.

What disorders are in the differential diagnosis of Obsessive-compulsive disorder?

The differential diagnosis of Obsessive-compulsive disorder (6B20) includes: Zaburzenie dysmorficzne ciała (6B21), Hipochondria (6B23), Powtarzające się zaburzenia behawioralne skoncentrowane na ciele (6B25), Zaburzenie odnoszenia węchowego (6B22), Zaburzenie związane ze zbieraniem (patologiczne zbieractwo, syllogomania) (6B24).

WHO ICD-11 source

View this entry in the official WHO ICD-11 browser: 6B20 – WHO ICD-11