OCD Case Study Questions with
Complete Solutions
A patient with OCD spends hours checking whether doors are locked, even though they know it's
irrational. What is the most likely reason for this behavior?
a) To ensure absolute safety
b) To reduce the anxiety associated with obsessive thoughts
c) To pass the time
d) To avoid social interaction
✔✔b) To reduce the anxiety associated with obsessive thoughts
**Rationale:** In OCD, repetitive behaviors like checking doors are performed to alleviate the
intense anxiety caused by obsessive thoughts, even if the person recognizes the actions as
irrational.
During a therapy session, a patient with OCD expresses fear of contamination and washes their
hands repeatedly. Which type of compulsion is this?
a) Checking
b) Hoarding
c) Cleaning
d) Ordering
1
,✔✔c) Cleaning
**Rationale:** Repeated handwashing is a cleaning compulsion commonly associated with
contamination fears in individuals with OCD.
A patient diagnosed with OCD is most likely to experience which of the following symptoms?
a) Delusions of grandeur
b) Persistent intrusive thoughts
c) Lack of motivation
d) Difficulty forming relationships
✔✔b) Persistent intrusive thoughts
**Rationale:** OCD is characterized by persistent, unwanted, and intrusive thoughts
(obsessions) that lead to repetitive behaviors (compulsions) aimed at reducing anxiety.
What is the primary purpose of exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy in treating
OCD?
a) To eliminate obsessive thoughts
b) To confront fears without engaging in compulsions
c) To reinforce compulsive behaviors
d) To replace one compulsion with another
2
, ✔✔b) To confront fears without engaging in compulsions
**Rationale:** ERP therapy helps individuals with OCD confront their fears directly and resist
the urge to perform compulsive behaviors, gradually reducing the anxiety associated with their
obsessions.
In a case study, a patient avoids touching doorknobs due to a fear of germs. What type of OCD
obsession does this represent?
a) Fear of losing control
b) Fear of contamination
c) Fear of causing harm
d) Fear of symmetry
✔✔b) Fear of contamination
**Rationale:** The patient’s avoidance of touching doorknobs due to germ-related fears is
characteristic of a contamination obsession in OCD.
If a patient with OCD is showing signs of improvement, which of the following would indicate
successful treatment?
a) Increased avoidance of stressors
b) Reduced frequency of compulsive behaviors
3
Complete Solutions
A patient with OCD spends hours checking whether doors are locked, even though they know it's
irrational. What is the most likely reason for this behavior?
a) To ensure absolute safety
b) To reduce the anxiety associated with obsessive thoughts
c) To pass the time
d) To avoid social interaction
✔✔b) To reduce the anxiety associated with obsessive thoughts
**Rationale:** In OCD, repetitive behaviors like checking doors are performed to alleviate the
intense anxiety caused by obsessive thoughts, even if the person recognizes the actions as
irrational.
During a therapy session, a patient with OCD expresses fear of contamination and washes their
hands repeatedly. Which type of compulsion is this?
a) Checking
b) Hoarding
c) Cleaning
d) Ordering
1
,✔✔c) Cleaning
**Rationale:** Repeated handwashing is a cleaning compulsion commonly associated with
contamination fears in individuals with OCD.
A patient diagnosed with OCD is most likely to experience which of the following symptoms?
a) Delusions of grandeur
b) Persistent intrusive thoughts
c) Lack of motivation
d) Difficulty forming relationships
✔✔b) Persistent intrusive thoughts
**Rationale:** OCD is characterized by persistent, unwanted, and intrusive thoughts
(obsessions) that lead to repetitive behaviors (compulsions) aimed at reducing anxiety.
What is the primary purpose of exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy in treating
OCD?
a) To eliminate obsessive thoughts
b) To confront fears without engaging in compulsions
c) To reinforce compulsive behaviors
d) To replace one compulsion with another
2
, ✔✔b) To confront fears without engaging in compulsions
**Rationale:** ERP therapy helps individuals with OCD confront their fears directly and resist
the urge to perform compulsive behaviors, gradually reducing the anxiety associated with their
obsessions.
In a case study, a patient avoids touching doorknobs due to a fear of germs. What type of OCD
obsession does this represent?
a) Fear of losing control
b) Fear of contamination
c) Fear of causing harm
d) Fear of symmetry
✔✔b) Fear of contamination
**Rationale:** The patient’s avoidance of touching doorknobs due to germ-related fears is
characteristic of a contamination obsession in OCD.
If a patient with OCD is showing signs of improvement, which of the following would indicate
successful treatment?
a) Increased avoidance of stressors
b) Reduced frequency of compulsive behaviors
3
