Summary
Read the full fact sheet- Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterised by obsessions and compulsions.
- OCD can have a profound effect on a person’s life.
- Psychological therapy, self-help techniques and medication can help people to recover from OCD.
This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:
This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:
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The five major types of anxiety disorders are:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder, GAD, is an anxiety disorder characterized by chronic anxiety, exaggerated
worry and tension, even when there is little or nothing to provoke it.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, OCD, is an anxiety disorder and is characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviors (compulsions). Repetitive behaviors such as hand washing, counting, checking, or cleaning are often performed with
the hope of preventing obsessive thoughts or making them go away. Performing these so-called "rituals," however, provides only temporary relief, and not performing them markedly increases anxiety.
Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder and is characterized by unexpected and repeated episodes of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms that may include chest pain, heart
palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, or abdominal distress.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened. Traumatic events that may trigger PTSD include violent personal assaults, natural
or human-caused disasters, accidents, or military combat.
Social Phobia, or Social Anxiety Disorder, is an anxiety disorder characterized by overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in everyday social situations. Social phobia can be limited to only one type of situation - such as a fear of speaking in
formal or informal situations, or eating or drinking in front of others - or, in its most severe form, may be so broad that a person experiences symptoms almost anytime they are around other people.
(National Institutes of Mental Health)
Content created by Digital Communications Division (DCD)
Content last reviewed
February 12, 2014