What is the primary characteristic of obsessive-compulsive disorder?

The primary characteristic of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is indeed the presence of obsessions or compulsions that cause significant impairment in daily functioning. This impairment can manifest in various ways, such as difficulties in maintaining social relationships, employment struggles, or interruptions in routine activities due to the time-consuming nature of the obsessions and compulsions.

Obsessions are intrusive and unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that cause significant anxiety or distress. Compulsions are behaviors or mental acts that an individual feels driven to perform in response to the obsessions, often aimed at reducing the anxiety or preventing a feared event. The connection between these thoughts and behaviors serves to underline the disorder's impact, as individuals may find that their compulsions often provide only temporary relief, leading to a repetitive cycle that exacerbates their disorder and daily challenges.

In contrast, other options present characteristics that do not align with the diagnostic criteria for OCD. For instance, having obsessions or compulsions for less than 1 hour daily does not typically result in the significant impairment necessary for a diagnosis. The notion of presenting compulsions without associated obsessive thoughts is not characteristic of OCD but may relate more to other disorders. Finally, the presence of intrusive thoughts without any resultant behavior lacks the compulsive aspect