An unwanted thought, word, phrase, or image that persistently and repeatedly comes into a person's mind and causes distress is known as which of the following?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

An obsession is characterized by unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that cause significant anxiety or distress, fitting the description provided. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts that a person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession or according to rules that must be applied rigidly, which doesn't match the description. Depression is a mood disorder with symptoms such as persistent sadness, lack of interest, and others, not specifically unwanted thoughts. Diathesis-stress refers to a psychological theory that explains behavior as a predispositional vulnerability together with stress from life experiences, which also does not match the given description.

An Unwanted Thought, Word, Phrase, or Image That Persistently and Repeatedly