9781422272398

Those with OCD might experience many such fears, each with its own associated ritual. While a small percentage of OCD patients aren’t aware that their fears are not sensible, most are frustrated that they can’t escape obsessing over improbable outcomes. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is discussed at length in the The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-5) , the handbook of the mental health field published by the American Psychiatric Association. Inclusion, exclusion, or change of classification of a disorder in the DSM is often considered the signal of a major political or scientific shift in how a certain aspect of mental health is viewed or what forms of a disorder an insurance company will cover.

PURE O

One form of OCD is sometimes called “pure O,” meaning “purely obsessional.” This condition focuses on the intrusion of upsetting or even neutral thoughts and images. It was once thought that these patients did not undergo rituals since they did nothing physical to relieve their stress, such as tapping or checking. However, researchers have recently discovered that those with “pure O” do have rituals—but they are mental instead of bodily actions. For example, a person who suffers from thoughts of violence might try to turn away these images by consciously imagining a peaceful lake instead.

14

Behavioral Disorders: Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders