Diagnosis of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Abstract

If you have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), your obsessive and compulsive behaviors are extreme enough to interfere with your everyday life. This is not the same as the "compulsive" behavior many people normally display, such as high standards of performance, perfectionism, and organization in work and recreational activities. Normal "compulsiveness" often serves a valuable purpose, contributing to a person's self-esteem and success on the job. OCD, on the other hand, involves obsessions and rituals that are very distressing and interfere with daily functioning.