Which statement would indicate obsessive-compulsive disorder with ritualistic behavior?

Which statement would indicate obsessive-compulsive disorder with ritualistic behavior?

• A. I never wash my hands
• B. I feel nothing about cleanliness
• C. I wash my hands 20-30 times a day
• D. I am never anxious

Answer: (C)

Obsessive-compulsive patterns revolve around intrusive thoughts that drive someone to perform repetitive actions to relieve the distress those thoughts cause. When the behavior becomes ritualistic, the person feels compelled to carry out a specific act again and again, even if it seems excessive, and this often takes up a lot of time and disrupts daily life. Washing hands 20-30 times a day is a classic example of a compulsive ritual related to contamination fears. It shows a repetitive, voluntary act done to reduce anxiety sparked by obsessive thoughts about dirt or germs. The frequency indicates a pattern that goes beyond typical care or hygiene, signaling an OCD-driven ritual. The other statements don’t fit OCD with ritualistic behavior. Never washing hands would not reflect a compulsion aimed at reducing anxiety from an obsession. Feeling nothing about cleanliness suggests a lack of related distress or drive to perform repetitive acts. Being never anxious would contradict the core feature of OCD, where the compulsions are aimed at alleviating anxiety tied to obsessions.

Obsessive-compulsive patterns revolve around intrusive thoughts that drive someone to perform repetitive actions to relieve the distress those thoughts cause. When the behavior becomes ritualistic, the person feels compelled to carry out a specific act again and again, even if it seems excessive, and this often takes up a lot of time and disrupts daily life.

Washing hands 20-30 times a day is a classic example of a compulsive ritual related to contamination fears. It shows a repetitive, voluntary act done to reduce anxiety sparked by obsessive thoughts about dirt or germs. The frequency indicates a pattern that goes beyond typical care or hygiene, signaling an OCD-driven ritual.

The other statements don’t fit OCD with ritualistic behavior. Never washing hands would not reflect a compulsion aimed at reducing anxiety from an obsession. Feeling nothing about cleanliness suggests a lack of related distress or drive to perform repetitive acts. Being never anxious would contradict the core feature of OCD, where the compulsions are aimed at alleviating anxiety tied to obsessions.