A behavior is compulsive when you have the urge to do it repeatedly — until a feeling of anxiety or unease goes away. A behavior is impulsive when you do it without forethought and without considering the consequences.

What does it mean to compulsively do something?

Compulsive behavior is defined as performing an action persistently and repetitively without it necessarily leading to an actual reward or pleasure. Compulsive behaviors could be an attempt to make obsessions go away. ... A major cause of the compulsive behaviors is said to be obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD).

Can OCD be impulsive?

OCD patients demonstrate increased impulsivity, risky decision-making and biased probabilistic reasoning compared to healthy controls.