Final answer:
The psychiatric disorder characterized by repetitive acts aimed to lessen anxiety is obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), an anxiety disorder marked by persistent obsessions and compulsions interfering with daily life.
Step-by-step explanation:
The performance of repetitive acts designed to lessen anxiety is characteristic of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The direct answer to the student's question is: c. obsessive-compulsive disorder.
OCD is a mental health condition where an individual experiences persistent and unwanted thoughts, urges, or images (obsessions) that cause distress, leading to engaging in behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) aimed at reducing anxiety or preventing a feared event or situation. Contrary to occasional anxiety everyone experiences, OCD is an anxiety disorder where these obsessions and compulsions become excessive, consuming significant amounts of time, and interfering with daily functioning
. Examples of compulsive behaviors include excessive cleaning, checking, or arranging objects in a particular way. OCD symptoms can overlap with other conditions but are distinguished by the presence of both obsessions and compulsions. It is a common disorder that impacts millions globally and often requires specialized treatment to manage symptoms effectively.