DEFINITION

• An obsession is a recurrent or persistent thought, image, or urge that is intrusive and unwanted. Obsessions cause significant anxiety and distress, which can be exacerbated by attempts to ignore, suppress, or neutralize by some other thought or action (i.e., compulsion).These thoughts, images, or urges are recognized as part of one’s own mental life; they are, however, ego-dystonic, meaning they misaligned with one’s self-concept, values, or goals . To varying degrees, they are judged by the patient to be irrational and intrusive.[1]
• An obsession can involve diverse subjects. Common obsessions often fall into one of the below subcategories[2][3]:
  • Contamination Obsessions: Fear of dirt or germs, environmental contaminants, household chemicals, contracting illness, contaminating others
  • Aggressive Obsessions: Fear of harming self/others intentionally or unintentionally, violent or horrific images in the mind, blurting out obscenities or insults
  • Sexual Obsessions: Forbidden or perverse sexual thoughts, images, or impulses, possibly involving homosexuality, paraphilias, or sexual violence
  • Religious Obsessions (Scrupulosity): Concerns with sacrilege or blasphemy, offending religious figures, committing sins, or excessive worry about morality
  • Hoarding/Saving Obsessions: Fear of losing things that might be needed
  • Symmetry/Exactness Obsessions: Need for symmetry, exactness, specific orders or arrangements; fear of not saying the right thing, forgetting things, or need to remember/know specific things
  • Common Miscellaneous Obsessions: Intrusive nonsense sounds, words, or music; fear of lucky/unlucky numbers; superstitious fears