Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) Practice Test

Which term refers to a repetitive thought or impulse?

1. Compulsion

2. Impulse control

3. Obsession

4. Phobia

The correct answer is: Obsession

The term that signifies a repetitive thought or impulse is obsession. An obsession is characterized by intrusive, unwanted thoughts that dominate a person's mind, often leading to distress or anxiety. These thoughts can be persistent and cause the individual to feel compelled to engage in specific behaviors or compulsions in an attempt to reduce the anxiety associated with those thoughts. In the context of mental health, obsessions are commonly associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), where individuals experience recurring thoughts that they struggle to control. This contrasts with other terms such as compulsion, which specifically refers to the behaviors or actions that may be performed in response to an obsession. Impulse control relates to the ability to resist urges to behave in certain ways but does not specifically denote repetitive thoughts. Phobia involves an irrational fear of a specific object or situation, making it distinct from the repetitive nature of obsessions. Thus, "obsession" rightly identifies the phenomenon of intrusive, repetitive thoughts or impulses.