OCD

abbreviation or noun

ˌō-ˌsē-'dē 

: a chronic disorder characterized by recurrent obsessions or compulsions or both that cause significant distress, are time-consuming, and interfere with normal daily functioning : obsessive-compulsive disorder

The subjects of the experiment were 18 people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)—unwanted and pointless but irresistible intrusive thoughts (e.g., fear of contamination by germs) and repetitive actions (e.g., handwashing or change-counting).

—The Harvard Medical School Mental Health Letter

OCD is a mental health condition that "involves both obsessions and compulsions that take up a lot of time and get in the way of important activities, such as school, family life, extracurricular activities, developing friendships, and self-care," according to the International OCD Foundation.

—Sarah D. Collins

Examples of OCD in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

All the characters add to the overall narrative, but Steve, a germophobe with OCD, stands out. —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 18 Oct. 2024

Photo: Courtesy of Cass Bird Studio Dress will be on view/available at OCD Chinatown from October 3rd to October 6th. —Laia Garcia-Furtado, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2024

During an interview on The Squeeze podcast on Oct. 16, the 24-year-old TikTok creator shared that he was officially diagnosed with OCD at 21 years old but struggled with it throughout his life. —Athena Sobhan, People.com, 16 Oct. 2024

Coach and therapist Erin H. Davies specialises in OCD and works with teens and women, focusing on tangible results and real progress. —Jodie Cook, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024

Medical Definition

OCD

abbreviation or noun

ˌō-ˌsē-ˈdē 

: a chronic disorder characterized by recurrent obsessions or compulsions or both that cause significant distress, are time-consuming, and interfere with normal daily functioning : obsessive-compulsive disorder

Childhood and adolescent obsessive-compulsive disorders are sometimes seen in dermatology practice. When present, OCD is most frequently manifested in younger patients as trichotillomania …

—J. Y. Koo and L. L. Smith, Pediatric Dermatology

… drugs such as Prozac help relieve the symptoms of OCD, but 90 percent of medicated patients relapse when the drugs are withdrawn. More effective is behavioral therapy, which has a cure rate of up to 80 percent.

—Josie Glausiusz, Discover