Q.Distinguish between obsessions and compulsions.

Obsessions and compulsions are the two components of obsessive-compulsive disorder, where the person cannot control her/his preoccupations or repeated acts.

Obsessive behaviour is a thinking disturbance: it is the inability to stop thinking about a particular idea or topic. The person is unable to control her/his preoccupation with specific ideas, often finding these persistent thoughts unpleasant and shameful. …

People affected by obsessive-compulsive disorder are unable to control their preoccupation with specific ideas, or are unable to prevent themselves from repeatedly carrying out a particular act or series of acts, in a way that affects their ability to carry out normal activities. The disorder has two defining parts — obsessions and compulsions.

Obsessive behaviour (the thoughts)

• It is the inability to stop thinking about a particular idea or topic.
• The person is unable to control her/his preoccupation with specific ideas.
• The person involved often finds these thoughts to be unpleasant and shameful.

Compulsive behaviour (the acts)

• It is the need to perform certain behaviours over and over again.
• The person is unable to prevent herself/himself from repeatedly carrying out a particular act or series of acts.
• Many compulsions deal with counting, ordering, checking, touching and washing (for example, washing one's hands every time one touches something, or stepping only within the patterns on the floor).

The key distinction …