Compulsion: From 1 Different Sources
n. an *obsession that takes the form of a motor act, such as repetitive washing based on a fear of contamination, as seen in *obsessive–compulsive disorder.
A psychological disorder in which the person a?icted has an irresistible compulsion to steal things, without necessarily having any need for the object stolen.... kleptomania
A mental-health problem which will be experienced at some time by up to 3 per cent of adults. The main feature is the occurrence of spontaneous intrusive thoughts that cause intense anxiety. Many of these thoughts prompt urges, or compulsions, to carry out particular actions in order to reduce the anxiety. One of the commonest obsessions is a fear of dirt and contamination that prompts compulsive cleaning or repeated and unnecessary handwashing. (See MENTAL ILLNESS.)... obsessive compulsive disorder
Also called transvestism. The term given to a psycho-sexual condition in which there is a repetitive compulsion to dress in the clothes of the opposite sex to achieve ORGASM.... transvestitism
(drug dependence) n. the physical and/or psychological effects produced by the habitual taking of certain drugs, characterized by a compulsion to continue taking the drug; in ICD-11 (see International Classification of Diseases) it is known as drug dependency syndrome. In physical dependence withdrawal of the drug causes specific symptoms (withdrawal symptoms), such as sweating, vomiting, or tremors, that are reversed by further doses. Substances that may induce physical dependence include alcohol and the ‘hard’ drugs morphine, heroin, and cocaine. Dependence on ‘hard’ drugs carries a high mortality, partly because overdosage may be fatal and partly because their casual injection intravenously may lead to infections such as *hepatitis and *AIDS. Treatment is difficult and requires specialist skills. Much more common is psychological dependence, in which repeated use of a drug induces reliance on it for a state of wellbeing and contentment, but there are no physical withdrawal symptoms if use of the drug is stopped. Substances that may induce psychological dependence include nicotine, cannabis, barbiturates, cocaine, and amphetamines.... dependence
a *sex-linked hereditary disease caused by an enzyme deficiency resulting in overproduction of uric acid. Affected boys have learning disabilities and suffer from *spasticity and gouty arthritis. They also have a compulsion for self-mutilation. [M. Lesch (1939–2008) and W. L. Nyhan Jr. (1926– ), US physicians]... lesch–nyhan disease
combining form denoting obsession, compulsion, or exaggerated feeling for. Example: pyromania (for starting fires).... mania
n. (pl. neuroses) any long-term mental or behavioural disorder in which contact with reality is retained and the condition is recognized by the sufferer as abnormal: the term and concept originated from Freud. A neurosis essentially features anxiety or behaviour exaggeratedly designed to avoid anxiety. Defence mechanisms against anxiety take various forms and may appear as phobias, obsessions, compulsions, or sexual dysfunctions. In recent classifications, the disorders formerly included under the neuroses have been renamed. The general term is now anxiety disorder; hysteria has become *conversion disorder; amnesia, fugue, and depersonalization are *dissociative disorders; obsessional neurosis is now known as *obsessive–compulsive disorder; and depressive neurosis has become *dysthymia. Psychoanalysis has proved of little value in curing these conditions; *behaviour therapy and *SSRIs are effective in many cases. —neurotic adj.... neurosis
(OCD) a mental illness prevalent in about 1% of the adult population but more common in children. Males are most commonly affected. The affected person has *obsessions or *compulsions he or she recognizes as senseless. Resisting the obsession causes anxiety, which is relieved by giving in to the compulsion. The obsession may, for example, be a vivid image, a fear (e.g. of contamination), or an impulse (e.g. to wash the hands repetitively). In severe cases obsessions and rituals can take over many hours of a person’s life each day. The condition can be treated with behaviour therapy and antidepressant medication, particularly clomipramine and SSRIs. *Psychosurgery is still a rare option in very severe and treatment-resistant cases.... obsessive–compulsive disorder
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