Ocd

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A mental health condition characterized by persistent, unwanted thoughts and repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing associated anxiety
2. A psychological disorder involving intrusive obsessions and compulsive actions performed in an attempt to alleviate distress
3. A condition marked by chronic preoccupations and rituals that interfere with daily functioning and well-being

Etymology: Before the condition had a name of its own, its key term came from a Latin verb meaning "to besiege." "Obsessive" descends from the past participle of "obsidere," built from "ob-" (against) and "sedere" (to sit), so the original image is of sitting down before a fortress. A thought that refuses to leave the mind is, in that sense, a siege. "Compulsive" comes from the Latin "compellere," "to drive together" or "force." The two words were joined in medical writing to describe a mind besieged by unwanted thoughts and driven to repeated actions. "OCD" is simply the initialism of "obsessive-compulsive disorder," a modern abbreviation of that clinical label.

Synonyms: obsessive-compulsive disorder