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NUI Galway looking for people with obsessive thoughts or compulsive disorders for survey

This research will examine the relationship between obsessional and compulsive symptoms and emotions such as guilt and self-disgust.

THE SCHOOL OF Psychology at NUI Galway is looking for more than 1,000 people who have obsessive thoughts or compulsive disorders to take part in an online survey.

Only 2-3% of the population are diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) but around a quarter of people in community studies report experiencing lower-level obsessions or compulsions at some point in their lives.

Many people experience obsessive thoughts that they struggle to remove from their mind, while others have compulsive behaviours that they feel like repeating over and over again such as checking locks and washing.

OCD can significantly impact a person’s life, with some individuals spending as much as six hours per day experiencing these symptoms. It can take many forms, such as:

  • Thoughts about being contaminated or dirty and engaging in excessive washing
  • Repetitive checking of locks and switches or certain rituals to prevent bad events
  • Unpleasant and unwanted thoughts about engaging in immoral or aggressive acts
  • An excessive need for symmetry and order, associated with a ‘not just right’ feeling

Emotions such as guilt and disgust have been linked to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Strong feelings of guilt and responsibility can be associated with excessive checking of switches and locks, while some people may wash excessively to remove feelings of disgust.

This research will examine the relationship between such emotions and obsessional and compulsive symptoms.

The online study will be conducted by Patrick McHugh, a psychologist in clinical training at the School of Psychology in NUI Galway. McHugh said:

Obsessions can feel overwhelming and difficult to control. We aim to investigate whether strong emotions like guilt and disgust contribute to such symptoms.

Dr Jonathan Egan, who is a both a chartered health and chartered clinical psychologist at NUI Galway, will also conduct the study with McHugh.

Dr Egan said: “When people do not reach out to others in order to normalise their thoughts, they may then start to experience distress.

Obsessions are often associated with thoughts which feel intrusive and out of your own control and if left untended to, can become a worrying pre-occupation and affect a person’s day-to-day life and may result in the need for a Chartered Clinical Psychologist’s intervention.

People who wish to participate in the study can do so by clicking here.

Read: What it’s really like living with OCD in Ireland>

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    Mute AN other
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    Aug 26th 2014, 10:43 AM

    That is the nature of insurance sure

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    Mute Anthony Byrne
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    Aug 26th 2014, 9:32 PM

    As opposed to the insurance against nature.

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    Mute Winston Teardrops
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    Aug 26th 2014, 11:02 AM

    These guys sicken me the way they insist on guaranteeing margins for themselves. Imagine a bike rental guy in the Aran Islands insisting on charging all tourists €50 per hour because ‘last year was a rainy summer’. FBD tried to hike mine but I went to Chill. The industry have the public over a barrel with the compulsory nature of their product. Its analogous to me placing a bet with a bookie, losing, and then robbing the place at gunpoint to get my money back. Yet governments around the world are afraid to stop them. Banks have the same ‘risk is not for us to suffer’ attitude.

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    Mute ISBA
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    Aug 26th 2014, 11:22 AM

    That is all to do with Governments obsession with Corpocracy – the interest of the consumer always plays seconds fiddle to Corporations – why could shareholders not be told there had been a bad winter and dividend increases are being withheld for once – rather than effectively steal the losses
    back off consumers.

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    Mute Norman Hunter
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    Aug 26th 2014, 11:08 AM

    They already hiked renewal premiums on my car and home insurance and that is why I’m no longer an FBD customer.

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    Mute Simon Connolly
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    Aug 26th 2014, 3:24 PM

    You’re right Jayo….it’s on the consumer’s interest to play insurance companies off one and other….I got my renewal from FBD a few weeks ago, checked around for another quote elsewhere, which in almost ever instance was coming in quite a bit cheaper….rang them back and told them that I didn’t want to move but because it was cheaper with someone else, that I had no other option…..they end up matching the other quotes!! Happy days!!

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    Mute Craig Hickey
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    Aug 26th 2014, 10:35 AM

    Pretty sure it’s FBD not FDB as it’s spelled in your headline……

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    Mute vv7k7Z3c
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    Aug 26th 2014, 10:37 AM

    Thanks Craig, that’s fixed now.

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    Mute Brian Keelty
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    Aug 26th 2014, 10:39 AM

    No… still FDB. ….

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    Mute vv7k7Z3c
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    Aug 26th 2014, 10:41 AM

    Thanks Brian, it might take a minute to update on all browsers.

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    Mute David Connell
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    Aug 26th 2014, 1:56 PM

    They lost €20 million but still made €5.6 million. So how much have they made in the last. 5 years…..?

    A lot…..and yet the greedy feckers will still want an increase.

    What’s more….they will be allowed.

    DISGUSTING!!!!!!!!!!

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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    Aug 26th 2014, 2:16 PM

    5.6 million is not a huge profit for a company that size.

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    Mute Mike Tobin
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    Aug 26th 2014, 12:25 PM

    Gangsters…

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    Mute aido m
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    Aug 26th 2014, 12:36 PM

    Sure just ask the government to set up a usc2 to help you out I’m sure they’ll oblige

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    Mute The Hooded Biscuit
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    Aug 27th 2014, 1:30 AM

    No Nonsense.ie becomes FU.ie

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