Which disorder is characterized by unwanted repetitive thoughts or actions?

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is the correct answer because it specifically involves the presence of obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are intrusive and unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that cause significant anxiety or distress. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts that an individual feels driven to perform in response to the obsessions or according to rigid rules. This cycle of obsessive thoughts leading to compulsive actions is a hallmark characteristic of OCD.

In contrast, schizophrenia primarily involves delusions and hallucinations, along with disorganized thinking and behavior, rather than the specific pattern of intrusive thoughts and compulsive actions. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) results from experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event and is characterized by symptoms like flashbacks, avoidance behaviors, and heightened arousal, but not by the obsessive-compulsive nature of thoughts and actions. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) involves excessive worry about a variety of issues, but does not include the specific repetitive thoughts and actions that define OCD.

Understanding these distinctions helps clarify why OCD is uniquely characterized by unwanted repetitive thoughts or actions.