5.4.F—Describe the symptoms and possible causes of selected obsessive-compulsive disorders and related disorders

Describe the symptoms and possible causes of selected obsessive-compulsive disorders and related disorders.

• Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders are characterized by the presence of obsessions (intrusive thoughts) and compulsions (intrusive, often repetitive, behaviors intended to address obsessions). Selected disorders in scope for AP Psychology in this category are obsessive-compulsive disorder and hoarding disorder.
• Possible causes of obsessive-compulsive disorders involve learned associations between and among stimuli, maladaptive thinking or emotional responses, and biological or genetic sources.