What is linguistic obsession?

Verbal obsessive-compulsive disorder, clinically categorized as a manifestation of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), is a type of mental and psychological disorder. Patients primarily exhibit intense, recurrent obsessive thoughts and behaviors related to specific words, sentences, or ways of speaking. The core feature is that patients repeatedly experience intrusive thoughts involving certain words or phrases they feel compelled to say, although these may not represent what the patient genuinely wishes to express or feels necessary to articulate. Patients often experience a strong urge to speak the words, yet simultaneously feel anxious or distressed about the potential consequences of doing so. This symptom may be accompanied by difficulty concentrating, cognitive conflicts, and even impaired daily communication. The causes of verbal obsessive-compulsive disorder may involve genetic, psychological, and social factors, such as changes in work environment or family disharmony. In terms of treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is widely recognized as an effective approach for OCD, particularly exposure and response prevention (ERP), which helps patients gradually confront and reduce their compulsive behaviors. Additionally, adjunctive treatments such as relaxation training and social skills training can help improve patients' adaptive abilities and quality of life.