Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
Body Dysmorphic Disorder is characterized by an obsessive focus on perceived flaws in physical appearance, even if they are minor or invisible to others. People with BDD experience significant distress over their appearance and engage in repetitive behaviors such as mirror checking, hiding the “flaw” with clothing or makeup, and constant comparisons to others.
- Similarity to OCD: Obsessive thoughts about appearance and compulsive rituals to reduce anxiety.
- Treatment: ERP, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and sometimes pharmacotherapy with SSRIs.
Compulsive Hoarding Disorder
Compulsive hoarding is characterized by persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions, regardless of their actual value. People with hoarding disorder experience emotional distress when attempting to discard items and tend to accumulate large quantities of objects, severely impacting daily life and functioning.
- Similarity to OCD: A drive to control possessions and fear of losing something important.
- Differences: Unlike OCD, hoarding involves less awareness of irrationality and sometimes lacks clear intrusive thoughts before hoarding.
- Treatment: CBT combined with motivational techniques and environmental-focused therapy.
Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs)
BFRBs involve an uncontrollable urge to engage in repetitive, self-injurious behaviors such as hair-pulling (Trichotillomania), nail-biting, or skin-picking.
- Similarity to OCD: An urge to perform repetitive actions, typically resulting in negative emotional states or consequences.
- Treatment: Habit Reversal Therapy (HRT) and CBT with ERP for associated thoughts.
Tic Disorders (Tic Disorders & Tourette Syndrome)
Tic disorders involve involuntary movements or sounds (motor or vocal tics) that repeat themselves. Tourette’s Syndrome is the most severe form of tic disorders, involving a combination of motor and vocal tics.
🔹 Similarity to OCD: Repetition of movements or actions, and sometimes a feeling of tension before performing the tic.
🔹 Differences: Tics in Tourette’s are involuntary and are not performed to reduce anxiety, unlike compulsions in OCD.
🔹 Treatment: Behavioral treatment using the CBIT (Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics) approach, and sometimes neuroleptic medications to relieve tics.