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Mental Disorder (APA): A Case Study

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OCD is characterized by recurrent, intrusive thoughts and images (obsessions) or by repetitive behaviours or mental acts performed to reduce distress (compulsions) (Bloch, Landeros-Weisenberger, Rosario, Pittenger, & Leckman, 2008). The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM–5; American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013) goes beyond this definition and says that a patient can be diagnosed with OCD when they satisfy all of these four criteria: Firstly they suffer from obsessions or compulsions. Secondly the obsessions or compulsions are time consuming or cause significant distress or impairment because even the normal population experiences some levels of obsession and compulsion (Steketee & Barlow, 2002). The last two points are that the symptoms cannot be attributed to the use of a substance, another medical condition or another mental disorder. DSM-5 also suggests that the diagnostician specify the level of insight that an individual has of the illegitimacy of their OCD beliefs. Poorer insight correlates with more negative long-term outcomes (APA, 2013). …show more content…
There are a large number of differential diagnoses that stem from this wide variability such as generalised anxiety disorder which differs only in the plausibility of the recurrent thoughts faced and tic disorder which differs in that tics are not aimed at reducing stress caused by obsessions (APA, 2013). Comorbidity rates are also high, for example, 76% of adults who have OCD also have a lifetime anxiety disorder (APA,

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