In this guide, you’ll learn the abbreviation OCD’s meaning, the origin of the abbreviation, how to use it in a sentence, synonyms, and more!
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Kevin
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January 7, 2022
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Common Questions
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You have probably heard the term OCD on television shows and documentaries. Still, hearing a word and knowing its meaning are two different things. It’s important to take the time to learn the definition of common words, terms, and acronyms like OCD so that we use them correctly and considerately.
What Does OCD Mean?
OCD is an abbreviation for obsessive-compulsive disorder. OCD is a disorder in which people have recurring, intrusive thoughts, urges, or sensations that cause them to feel driven to do something repetitively. This disorder requires a medical diagnosis.
The Oxford English Dictionary has two definitions for obsessive-compulsive disorder:
- As a noun, it is defined as an anxiety disorder characterized by compulsions or obsessions that distress the normal daily functioning of the affected individual.
- Informally and as an adjective, the term is typically used to describe a person’s tendencies toward excessive tidiness, perfectionism, and heightened attention to detail.
The informal use is popular, but it can be frustrating to hear the word used flippantly for people who’ve experienced this anxiety disorder and the disruptions it can cause.
What Is the Origin of OCD?
As with most psychiatric diagnoses, there were well-documented cases of obsessive-compulsive disorder and its related symptoms years before the clinical term was coined.
The first documented public use of OCD was in 1691 when a bishop named John Moore described the intrusive thoughts, uncontrollable impulses, and repetitive efforts at correction that now characterize OCD.
In the centuries that followed, many would examine these symptoms and attributes. The term is most notably tied to the work of Sigmund Freud. Freud was the Austrian founder of psychoanalysis. In an 1895 paper about anxiety neurosis, he mentioned the term “zwangsneurose” or obsessive neurosis. That term was still used by psychiatrists 100 years later.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of mental disorders first included the diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder in the 1980s. It was defined as an anxiety disorder both then and in the currently-used DSM-5.
How Do We Use the Term OCD?
OCD is very common. We can only estimate how many people in the United States have OCD because not all people seek or have a diagnosis. At our best guess, roughly 2 to 3 million adults in the United States currently have OCD.
Many of the obsessions for people dealing with OCD have common themes such as:
- Fear of contamination from dirt or germs
- Difficulties tolerating or dealing with uncertainty
- Driving need for things to be orderly and symmetrical
- Intrusive thoughts that can be aggressive or horrific that revolve around self-harm or harming others
- Unwanted thoughts or mental images about topics such as aggression, religion, or sex
Some examples of obsessions:
- Envisioning your car wrecking at every intersection
- Intense stress when things are disorderly
- Doubts that locks have truly been locked
- Excessive worries
- Avoidance of triggering situations
As with their obsessions, people with OCD have compulsions that usually have a common theme like:
- Washing
- Excessive Cleaning
- Checking
- Counting
- Adherence to a strict routine
- Demanding reassurance from others or through repetitive actions
- Constant orderliness
Some examples of compulsions include:
- Repetitive hand-washing until skin is raw
- Counting particular items or in a certain pattern
- Checking the doors repeatedly to be sure they’re locked
- Needing your pantry to be arranged so that canned goods face the same way and are properly spaced or categorized
- Repetitively turning light switches on and off
- Constantly arranging objects to achieve symmetry
How Is OCD Treated?
OCD symptoms can vary in severity and their impact on a person and their daily life. Many people self-soothe with repetitive behaviors, rituals, and avoidance of their triggers. For many, treatments are needed. A doctor might prescribe:
- Medications or antidepressants (ex.: Prozac, fluvoxamine, fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline)
- Psychotherapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Who Is at Risk of Developing OCD?
OCD can mean a predisposition for other disorders and disordered behaviors, or the presence of other disorders can make symptoms more severe. This includes disorders and behaviors like:
- Depression
- Body dysmorphic disorder
- Trichotillomania or hair pulling
- Excoriation disorder or skin picking
- Hoarding disorder
What Is a Synonym for OCD?
Synonyms are our way of saying essentially the same things in a different way. There are often phrases or alternate names for a diagnosis that is widely accepted to mean the same thing in the medical community. Here are examples of synonyms for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD):
- Obsessive-compulsive syndrome
- Obsessive compulsion
- Obsessive-compulsive behavior
- Compulsive behavior
- Obsessive thoughts
Synonyms that closely relate to the subject of obsessive-compulsive disorder are:
- Neurotic
- High-strung
- Anxious
- Bothered
- Distressed
- Nervous
- Tense
- Irrational
These don’t necessarily mean the same thing as OCD, but they are related because of the disorder’s symptoms and perceptions.
What Is an Antonym for OCD?
Antonyms are a quick and easy way to say the opposite meaning of a word. They can help when describing an opposing view or conveying a different idea. Here are the antonyms for OCD or antonyms for words closely associated with the feelings and perceptions associated with OCD:
- Unneurotic
- Tranquil
- Relaxed
- Undisturbed
- Untroubled
- Rational
- Balanced
- Reasonable
- Sound
- Self-composed
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a condition that requires a medical diagnosis, and antonyms should be used carefully when discussing the subject outside of a medical setting.
Here Are Examples of Using OCD in a Sentence
- People overuse the term OCD.
- My OCD is triggered when I see windows because I can’t stop counting them.
- One of my OCD urges is to relentlessly check that I unplugged my straightener.
- The doctor has diagnosed me with OCD.
- My OCD obsessions sometimes affect my relationships with others.
- OCD is just one area of mental health.
- Scattered packets of sauce on the table is an OCD trigger for me.
OCD is a mental health condition. For those with severe OCD, it is considered a mental illness. While the term is widely used to describe people who like to be neat and tidy, it is more serious and deserves to have its proper definition known.
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