Diagnosis criteria for OCD - obsessive-compulsive disorder

Nutrition Health Review, Wntr, 1991

The diagnosis of obsession is valid only if these four features are present:

1. Recurrent ideas, impulses or images considered intrusive and senseless.

2. Attempts to ignore, suppress or neutralize these thoughts with actions or other thoughts.

3. Recognition by the patient that the troublesome thoughts are a product of mind, not imposed from without.

4. Symptoms are not accounted for by another mental disorder, such as guilty thoughts in major depression or a longing for drugs in psychoactive-substance-use disorder.

The diagnosis of compulsion is valid only if these three features are present:

1. Repetitive, purposeful and intentional behaviors performed in response to an obsession, according to certain rules or in a stereotyped manner.

2. Behaviors aimed at preventing discomfort or some dreaded situation but designed in an unrealistic or excessive way.

3. Recognition by the patient that the behaviors are unreasonable.

The diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder is valid only if an obsession and/or compulsion (as defined above) causes marked distress, is time consuming (at least one hour a day) or significantly interferes with normal routines, work or relationships.