Which disorder is defined by persistent, unwanted thoughts and/or actions to reduce anxiety?

Which disorder is defined by persistent, unwanted thoughts and/or actions to reduce anxiety?

• A. Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• B. Panic disorder
• C. Generalized anxiety disorder
• D. Social anxiety disorder

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is the link between persistent, intrusive thoughts and the actions people take to relieve the anxiety those thoughts cause. In obsessive-compulsive disorder, someone experiences obsessions—recurrent, unwanted thoughts or urges that create distress—and often feels driven to perform compulsions, which are repetitive behaviors or mental acts aimed at reducing that distress or preventing a feared outcome. The anxiety triggered by the obsessions is temporarily lowered by the compulsions, but the relief is brief, and the cycle continues, often taking up a lot of time and impairing daily functioning. Other anxiety-related disorders involve worry or fear without this specific pattern of obsessions paired with compulsions, so they don’t match the defining combination described here. OCD is also typically ego-dystonic, meaning the person recognizes the thoughts and behaviors as irrational but feels unable to stop them.

The main idea here is the link between persistent, intrusive thoughts and the actions people take to relieve the anxiety those thoughts cause. In obsessive-compulsive disorder, someone experiences obsessions—recurrent, unwanted thoughts or urges that create distress—and often feels driven to perform compulsions, which are repetitive behaviors or mental acts aimed at reducing that distress or preventing a feared outcome. The anxiety triggered by the obsessions is temporarily lowered by the compulsions, but the relief is brief, and the cycle continues, often taking up a lot of time and impairing daily functioning. Other anxiety-related disorders involve worry or fear without this specific pattern of obsessions paired with compulsions, so they don’t match the defining combination described here. OCD is also typically ego-dystonic, meaning the person recognizes the thoughts and behaviors as irrational but feels unable to stop them.