Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Option (1) Anxiety Disorder — Incorrect. Anxiety disorders are marked by fear, worry and apprehension, as in generalised anxiety disorder, panic attacks and phobias. Seema’s main trouble is a thought she cannot stop, not a fear of some object or situation.
Option (2) Depression — Incorrect. Major depressive disorder is a period of depressed mood and/or loss of interest or pleasure, with changes in sleep and weight, tiredness and feelings of worthlessness. Nothing in Seema’s case points to low mood.
Option (3) Schizophrenia — Incorrect. Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder of disturbed thought processes, strange perceptions, unusual emotions and motor abnormalities, such as delusions and hallucinations. Seema knows her thought is a preoccupation; she has not lost touch with reality.
Option (4) Obsessive Compulsive Disorder — Correct. People with OCD are unable to control their preoccupation with specific ideas, or unable to stop themselves from repeating an act, and this affects their normal activities. Obsessive behaviour is the inability to stop thinking about a particular idea; Seema cannot stop thinking that her hands are dirty, and it interferes with her daily life.
NCERT (2025-26): “Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders … 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 that affect their ability to carry out normal activities. Obsessive behaviour is the inability to stop thinking about a particular idea or topic. The person involved, often finds these thoughts to be unpleasant and shameful. Compulsive behaviour is the need to perform certain behaviours over and over again.…” |