Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) - Symptoms and causes
Introduction Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health disorder that causes people to have unwanted thoughts, repetitive behaviors and mental images. People with OCD focus on these thoughts and behaviors. They may feel driven to perform certain rituals or excessively check things they think may not be safe. For example, someone with OCD might wash their hands excessively because they believe germs are dangerous or feel compelled to keep all the lights on in their home so no one can see them at night. Overview Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that causes people to experience intrusive thoughts, urges and/or images that they can’t control. These intrusive thoughts are called obsessions, while the repetitive behaviors (compulsions) are called compulsions. People with OCD may spend hours staring at a spot on the floor or washing their hands over and over again until there is no longer any dirt on them. They may also have severe anxiety about ger...