SEN RESEARCH PAPER
Definition: (support with 2 references)
Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a ‘serious anxiety-related condition where a person experiences frequent intrusive and unwelcome obsessional thoughts, often followed by repetitive compulsions, impulses or urges.’ OCD-UK (2013).
The main characteristics of OCD are the compulsions, also known as rituals. They are usually carried out as a way of reducing the distress caused by obsessions. ‘Observable and recognisable behaviours are: physical rituals such as washing or tapping or mental rituals (such as thinking a good thought to cancel out a bad thought)’. Compulsions are usually carried out as a way of reducing the distress caused by obsessions. OCD can trouble children as they can experience ‘very high levels of anxiety and distress and find that it can take up a lot of their time’. OCD Action (2014) http://school.ocdaction.org.uk/ http://www.ocduk.org/ocd
What are the characteristics?
The following obsessions and compulsions are described by OCD Action (2014) as recognised characteristics of OCD:
OCD Action (2014)
In the school environment OCD can be recognised as the following:
• Poor attention and concentration due to distraction from unwanted thoughts or the need to perform rituals
• Extreme tiredness due to being up late at night doing rituals or the overall exhaustion caused by the constant battle with OCD
• Frequent or prolonged toilet visits due to completing cleaning rituals
• An inability to touch objects, materials or other people due to possible contamination fears
• Excessive questioning and need for reassurance
• Messy work due to having to repeat rituals such as rewriting or erasing words
• Repeated lateness as a result of being delayed by rituals
• Late handing in work due to being slowed down by obsessions and/or compulsions
• Arranging items on a desk, shelf or classroom so that objects are aligned
• Repetitive behaviours such as getting up and down
Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a ‘serious anxiety-related condition where a person experiences frequent intrusive and unwelcome obsessional thoughts, often followed by repetitive compulsions, impulses or urges.’ OCD-UK (2013).
The main characteristics of OCD are the compulsions, also known as rituals. They are usually carried out as a way of reducing the distress caused by obsessions. ‘Observable and recognisable behaviours are: physical rituals such as washing or tapping or mental rituals (such as thinking a good thought to cancel out a bad thought)’. Compulsions are usually carried out as a way of reducing the distress caused by obsessions. OCD can trouble children as they can experience ‘very high levels of anxiety and distress and find that it can take up a lot of their time’. OCD Action (2014) http://school.ocdaction.org.uk/ http://www.ocduk.org/ocd
What are the characteristics?
The following obsessions and compulsions are described by OCD Action (2014) as recognised characteristics of OCD:
OCD Action (2014)
In the school environment OCD can be recognised as the following:
• Poor attention and concentration due to distraction from unwanted thoughts or the need to perform rituals
• Extreme tiredness due to being up late at night doing rituals or the overall exhaustion caused by the constant battle with OCD
• Frequent or prolonged toilet visits due to completing cleaning rituals
• An inability to touch objects, materials or other people due to possible contamination fears
• Excessive questioning and need for reassurance
• Messy work due to having to repeat rituals such as rewriting or erasing words
• Repeated lateness as a result of being delayed by rituals
• Late handing in work due to being slowed down by obsessions and/or compulsions
• Arranging items on a desk, shelf or classroom so that objects are aligned
• Repetitive behaviours such as getting up and down