OCD symptoms

Overview

OCD involves intrusive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) done to reduce the distress. It's not perfectionism — it's time-consuming, distressing, and impairing.

Symptoms to watch for

• Contamination fears with washing rituals
• Symmetry/ordering obsessions
• Intrusive taboo thoughts
• Checking (locks, stove)
• Mental compulsions (counting, praying, reviewing)

What else could this be?

• Generalized anxiety
• OCPD (a personality style, no compulsions)
• Body-focused repetitive behaviors
• Tic disorders

Treatment

First-line: Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy. Medications: high-dose SSRIs (fluoxetine, sertraline, fluvoxamine).