---
abstract: 'A new hypothesis is presented within the framework of evolutionary psychology that attempts to explain the origins of obsessive-compulsive disorder.  It is suggested that obsessions and compulsions originate from the overactivity of a mental module that the majority of humans possess and has the function of generating risk scenarios without voluntary intervention.  It is hypothesised that obsessional phenomena function as an off-line risk avoidance process, designed to lead to risk avoidance behaviour at a future time, thus distinguishing it from anxiety and related phenomena as on-line emotional states, designed to lead to the avoidance of immediate and direct risks.  Finally, the hypothesis makes a number of specific predictions that are testable and refutable.  It is contended that the present hypothesis if supported by empirical evidence could serve as a basis for future research on this important disorder.'
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creators_name:
  - family: Abed
    given: Riadh T
    honourific: ''
    lineage: ''
  - family: de Pauw
    given: Karel W
    honourific: ''
    lineage: ''
date: 1999
date_type: published
datestamp: 2000-12-19
department: ~
dir: disk0/00/00/11/47
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editors_name:
  - family: Mayes
    given: Andrew
    honourific: ''
    lineage: ''
eprint_status: archive
eprintid: 1147
fileinfo: /style/images/fileicons/text_html.png;/1147/1/ocd%2Dfinal.htm
full_text_status: public
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keywords: 'Darwinism, evolutionary psychology, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder'
lastmod: 2011-03-11 08:54:27
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metadata_visibility: show
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pagerange: 245-250
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publication: Behavioural Neurology
publisher: IOS Press
refereed: TRUE
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reportno: ~
rev_number: 8
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status_changed: 2007-09-12 16:36:38
subjects:
  - evol-psy
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title: 'An Evolutionary Hypothesis for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Psychological Immune System?'
type: journalp
userid: 169
volume: 11
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