Repeated Behaviors Due to Unwanted Thoughts and Fears
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Reviewed By:
Charles Carlson, DO, MS (Psychiatry)
Dr. Carlson graduated from Touro University in Nevada with a degree in osteopathic medicine. He then trained as a resident in Psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals where he was also a chief resident and completed a fellowship in Public and Community Psychiatry. After training, he started practicing in | Addiction Psychiatry at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs where he also teaches Psychiatry residents.
Yu Shirai, MD (Psychiatry)
Dr. Shirai works at the Yotsuya Yui Clinic for mental health treatment for English and Portuguese-speaking patients. He treats a wide range of patients from neurodevelopmental disorders to dementia in children and participates in knowledge sharing through the Diversity Clinic.
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Need to check the locks many times to be reassured
Doing illogical things to prevent other illogical fears from arising
Often have to persuade my family or friends to get rid of germs
Cleaning hands after touching anything
Making sure friends are completely clean before touching me
Keep going back to check that locks are correct
Scared of becoming contaminated
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Content updated on Jan 4, 2023
About the symptom
Obsessive and compulsive thoughts are recurrent and persistent thoughts or urges that are unwanted and cause distress. The person attempts to suppress the unwanted thoughts or urges by performing an action (compulsive action). Examples of some repetitive actions/behaviors are hand washing, ordering, checking, praying, counting, or repeating words silently.
Possible causes
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
A mental illness in which a patient has uncontrollable, recurring thoughts, ideas or sensations (Obsessions) that make them feel driven to do something repeatedly such as cleaning or washing their hands (compulsions). Although the cause of OCD is not fully known, experts believe that neurochemical abnormalities play a part in the disease.
Other Related Symptoms
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Symptoms from the same body system / part
Symptoms treated by the same specialty
Reviewed By:
Charles Carlson, DO, MS (Psychiatry)
Dr. Carlson graduated from Touro University in Nevada with a degree in osteopathic medicine. He then trained as a resident in Psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals where he was also a chief resident and completed a fellowship in Public and Community Psychiatry. After training, he started practicing in | Addiction Psychiatry at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs where he also teaches Psychiatry residents.
Yu Shirai, MD (Psychiatry)
Dr. Shirai works at the Yotsuya Yui Clinic for mental health treatment for English and Portuguese-speaking patients. He treats a wide range of patients from neurodevelopmental disorders to dementia in children and participates in knowledge sharing through the Diversity Clinic.
Just 3 minutes.
Developed by doctors.
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Seiji Kanazawa, MD, PHD
Obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN)
National Center for Child Health and Development, Japan