title: [Irrational anxiety: obsessive-compulsive disorder].
abstract: Obsessive-compulsive disorder is an exemplar of an anxiety disorder where irrational thoughts and compulsive behaviors succeed each other in a mental system where every negative outcome can occur. Affects like doubt and guilt reinforce the need to prevent catastrophic consequences from occurring. Magical thinking replaces logical thoughts. The risk of suicide becomes high when compulsive acts cannot control anxiety. Behavior and cognitive therapy is the most frequent type of psychological help: the principal target is the change of emotional reactions.
authors.affiliation: Clinique des maladies mentales et de l'encéphale, Centre hospitalier Sainte-Anne, 75014 Paris. l.vera@ch-sainte-anne.fr
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vera
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy