What is Pure-O?

 

Distinguishing OCD From Other Mental Illnesses - There is a very good description of the differences between and other disorders, as well as average behavior that is often mistaken for OCD, here.

Primarily Obsessional Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (also commonly called Purely Obsessional OCD, Pure-O, OCD without overt compulsions or with covert compulsions)^[1] is a lesser-known form or manifestation of OCD. For people with primarily obsessional OCD, there are usually no observable compulsions, such as those commonly seen in those with the typical form of OCD (checking, counting, hand-washing, etc.). While ritualizing and neutralizing behaviors do take place, they are almost entirely in the form of excessive mental rumination.^[2]

Wikipedia


When a person with OCD tries to do something to reduce the anxiety from obsessions we call this a compulsion. The tricky thing to remember about compulsions is that they can be behaviors that you can see (hand washing) or can be done inside one’s head. In the latter case we call this a mental compulsion. Counting is an example of a mental compulsion. Other mental compulsions include mentally reviewing, praying, thought suppression, or “undoing” or “cancelling” a negative thought with a positive one, for example. There was confusion for a long time about this part of OCD. People with mental compulsions but not physical ones were called “pure obsessionals”, because it had been thought that all obsessions were mental and all compulsions were physical and could be seen.

Jeff Szymanski, PhD


"Pure Obsessional" OCD is a term for a type of OCD in which an individual reports experiencing obsessions without observable compulsions. These obsessions often manifest as intrusive, unwanted, inappropriate thoughts, impulses or "mental images". While it may seem that the individual has obsessions without compulsions, a review of his/her symptoms almost always reveals various compulsive behaviors, avoidant behaviors, reassurance-seeking behaviors, and "mental compulsions" which are not at first as easily observed as other, more obvious OCD compulsions.

 OCD Center of Los Angelas


Pure Obsessional OCD (otherwise known as Pure 'O' OCD) is different to traditional OCD as the physical compulsions that make up a large part of OCD are not present. It is easy to get confused between the two types of OCD as there is a certain amount of overlap, but sufferers of Pure 'O' OCD will display slightly different symptoms and characteristics. Take our quiz to see if your OCD symptoms are indicative of Pure 'O' OCD.

OCD Symptoms