What do we call nagging intrusive thoughts that can be part of obsessive-compulsive disorder?

The term for nagging intrusive thoughts commonly associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder is "obsessions." These are persistent and unwanted thoughts that cause significant anxiety or distress. Individuals experiencing these obsessions often recognize that the thoughts are irrational, yet they find them difficult to control. This persistent nature of the thoughts can drive individuals to engage in compulsive behaviors in an effort to alleviate the anxiety caused by the obsessions.

Compulsions, on the other hand, refer to the behaviors or mental acts that individuals feel compelled to perform in response to the obsessions, in order to reduce anxiety or prevent a feared event. Fantasies are imaginative experiences that are not necessarily connected to anxiety disorders and do not have a compulsive or distressing element. Delusions are fixed false beliefs that are not amenable to reason or confrontation with actual fact, typically seen in psychotic disorders rather than anxiety disorders. Understanding the distinction between these terms is crucial in recognizing and addressing the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder effectively.