compulsive

Compulsive is an adjective describing actions driven by an irresistible urge to perform them, often to alleviate distress or anxiety. In everyday use, it can describe unusually strong adherence to routines or habits, sometimes excessive or ritualistic, but does not by itself imply a clinical disorder. The noun form is compulsion.

In clinical psychology, compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts that a person feels compelled to perform in response to an obsession or according to rules that must be applied rigidly. The purpose is typically to prevent or reduce distress or feared outcomes, though the relief is usually temporary and the behavior can be time-consuming and impairing.

Compulsions are a hallmark of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). They can be observable, such as excessive hand washing, checking, or arranging items, or mental, such as repeating phrases, counting, or praying. The urge to perform compulsions is characteristic, but individuals often recognize the behavior as excessive or unreasonable.

Compulsive patterns may occur in related conditions, such as impulse-control disorders or addictive behaviors, and can be part of broader anxiety or mood disorders. OCD affects an estimated 1-3% of people at some point in life. Treatment typically involves cognitive-behavioral therapy with exposure and response prevention, and may include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or other medications.

Etymology: derived from Latin compulsus, meaning driven together. In ordinary speech, "compulsive" describes highly driven or hard-to-resist behavior, without implying a disorder unless the behavior causes significant impairment.