Glossary of terms: O

Obsessions

ICD10

Ideas, images or impulses which enter a person's mind again and again in stereotyped form. They are almost invariably distressing.

Obsessive compulsive disorder

CaF directory of specific conditions and rare syndromes

Anxiety disorder where an individual has to perform specific actions such as washing. These activities may reach such proportions that the individual's entire life is centred upon them.

Occupational therapy

Oxford companion to medicine, J Walton, PB Beeson, R Bodley Scott eds

Method of treatment by means of purposeful occupation. The goals are to arouse interest and confidence and exercise mind and body.

Opiates

Hutchinson encyclopedia

Naturally produced chemical in the body that has effects similar to morphine.

Opioids

Black's medical dictionary, G Macpherson ed; 38th ed

Substance with pharmacological action like that of opium or its derivatives.

Overselectivity

Behaviour modification for people with mental handicaps, W Yule and
J Carr; 2nd ed

Responding to just one or two components of a stimulus rather than the large number of cues which make up a stimulus, eg, one letter of a word.

Related resources

• Education jargon (England and Wales)
  
• Education jargon (Scotland)
  

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