OCD SELF-TEST

If you suspect OCD, the first step toward regaining control of you life is to seek help. Answer "yes" or "no" to the following questions by clicking in the appropriate box, print out the test, and show it to your health care professional at your first visit.

COULD IT BE OCD?
Yes or No?

Yes No Do you have unwanted ideas, images, or impulses that seem silly, nasty, or horrible?
Yes No Do you worry excessively about dirt, germs, or chemicals?
Yes No Are you constantly worried that something bad will happen because you forgot something important, like locking the door or turning off appliances?
Yes No Shortness of breath
Yes No Are you afraid you will act or speak aggressively when you really don't want to?
Yes No Are you always afraid you will lose something of importance:
Yes No Are there things you feel you must do excessively or thoughts you must think repeatedly in order to feel comfortable?
Yes No "Jelly" legs
Yes No Do you wash yourself or things around you excessively?
Yes No Do you have to check things over and over again or repeat them many times to be sure they are done properly?
Yes No Do you avoid situations or people you worry about hurting by aggressive words or deeds?
Yes No Do you keep many useless things because you feel that you can't throw them away?

Having more than one illness at the same time can make it difficult to diagnose and treat the different conditions. Illnesses that sometimes complicate an anxiety disorder include depression and substance abuse. With this in mind, please take a minute to answer the following questions:
Yes No Have you experienced changes in sleeping or eating habits?

More days than not, do you feel:

Yes No Sad or depressed?
Yes No Disinterested in life?
Yes No Worthless or guilty?

During the last year, has the use of alcohol or drugs:

Yes No Resulted in your failure to fulfill responsibilities with work, school, or family?
Yes No Placed you in a dangerous situation, such as driving a car under the influence?
Yes No Gotten you arrested?
Yes No Continued despite causing problems for you and/or your loved ones?

Reference:
Goodman, WK, Price LH, et al. The Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS): Part 1. Development, use and reliability. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1989; 46:1006-1011 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. Washington, DC American Psychiatric Association, 1994.

If you or someone you know would like more information on obsessive-compulsive disorder, please click here to go to the ADAA resource page on this topic.




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