Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a potentially disabling condition characterized by persistent obsessions and compulsions that cause marked distress, consume at least one hour per day, and signifi cantly interfere with daily living. An obsession is defined as a recurrent, persistent thought, impulse, or mental image that is unwanted and distressing, and comes involuntarily to mind despite attempts to ignore or suppress it. A compulsion is a ritualized behavior or mental act that a person is driven to perform in response to his or her obsessions.