Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders (OCRDs) are a group of mental health conditions characterized by persistent and intrusive thoughts, images, or impulses (obsessions) that cause distress, and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) aimed at reducing the anxiety caused by the obsessions.
The disorders in this category include:
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – a disorder where a person has recurring unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviors (compulsions).
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) – a disorder where a person is excessively concerned about one or more perceived flaws or defects in their appearance that are not noticeable to others.
Hoarding Disorder – a disorder where a person has difficulty discarding possessions, regardless of their actual value, which results in clutter that interferes with the use of living spaces.
Trichotillomania (Hair-Pulling Disorder) – a disorder where a person has a strong urge to pull out their hair from their scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, or other body parts, resulting in noticeable hair loss.
Excoriation (Skin-Picking) Disorder – a disorder where a person recurrently picks at their skin, resulting in skin lesions, scarring, and/or infections.
Substance/Medication-Induced Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorder – a disorder where the symptoms of an OCD-related disorder are caused by substance abuse or medication.
All of these disorders share the common feature of unwanted, intrusive thoughts or behaviors that are difficult to control and cause significant distress and impairment in daily life. Treatment usually involves a combination of therapy, medication, and support.
Shervan K Shahhian
LIBERTY PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION 