Intrusive thought

Intrusive thought
Intrusive thought
	The high place phenomenon is a common intrusive thought when present in a high place.
Specialty	Psychiatry, clinical psychology

An intrusive thought is an unwelcome, involuntary thought, image, or unpleasant idea that may become an obsession, is upsetting or distressing, and can feel difficult to manage or eliminate.^[2]^[3] When such thoughts are associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), Tourette's syndrome (TS), depression, body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), and sometimes attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the thoughts may become paralyzing, anxiety-provoking, or persistent. Intrusive thoughts may also be associated with episodic memory, unwanted worries or memories from OCD,^[4] post-traumatic stress disorder, other anxiety disorders, eating disorders, or psychosis.^[5] Intrusive thoughts, urges, and images are of inappropriate things at inappropriate times, and generally have aggressive, sexual, or blasphemous themes.^[6]

^ Cite error: The named reference Hames was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Omoregie, Jesse; Carson, Jerome (2022-01-01). "Reductive mechanisms for unwanted intrusive thoughts: exploring affectivity in clinical and non-clinical samples". Mental Health and Social Inclusion. 27: 51–65. doi:10.1108/MHSI-06-2022-0040. ISSN 2042-8308. S2CID 251511163.
^ Edwards, Sally; Dickerson, Mark (1987). "Intrusive unwanted thoughts: A two-stage model of control". British Journal of Medical Psychology. 60 (4): 317–328. doi:10.1111/j.2044-8341.1987.tb02750.x. PMID 3426969.
^ Baer (2001), pp. 58–60
^ Brewin CR, Gregory JD, Lipton M, Burgess N (January 2010). "Intrusive images in psychological disorders: characteristics, neural mechanisms, and treatment implications". Psychol Rev. 117 (1): 210–32. doi:10.1037/a0018113. PMC 2834572. PMID 20063969.
^ Baer (2001), p. xiv.