Self Tests

OCD

Yale-Brown OCD Scale - This rating scale is designed to rate the severity and type of symptoms in patients with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Click here to download. Another Test for OCD is available here: http://psychcentral.com/ocdquiz.htm

One Diagnostic Criteria for OCD is defined as:

(A) Either obsessions or compulsions:

Obsessions as defined by:

• Recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that are experienced, at some time during the disturbance, as intrusive and inappropriate and that cause marked anxiety or distress
• the thoughts, impulses, or images are not simply excessive worries about real-life problems
• the person attempts to ignore or suppress such thoughts, impulses, or images, or to neutralize them with some other thought or action
• the person recognizes that the obsessional thoughts, impulses, or images are a product of his or her own mind (not imposed from without as in thought insertion)

Compulsions as defined by:

• Repetitive behaviors (e.g., hand washing, ordering, checking) or mental acts (e.g., praying, counting, repeating words silently) that the person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession, or according to rules that must be applied rigidly the behaviors or mental acts are aimed at preventing or reducing distress or preventing some dreaded event or situation; however, these behaviors or mental acts either are not connected in a realistic way with what they are designed to neutralize or prevent or are clearly excessive
• (B) At some point during the course of the disorder, the person has recognized that the obsessions or compulsions are excessive or unreasonable. Note: This does not apply to children.
• (C) The obsessions or compulsions cause marked distress, are time consuming (take more than 1 hour a day), or significantly interfere with the person's normal routine, occupational (or academic) functioning, or usual social activities or relationships.
• (D) If another Axis I disorder is present, the content of the obsessions or compulsions is not restricted to it (e.g., preoccupation with food in the presence of an Eating Disorder; hair pulling in the presence of Trichotillomania; concern with appearance in the presence of Body Dysmorphic Disorder; preoccupation with drugs in the presence of a Substance Use Disorder; preoccupation with having a serious illness in the presence of Hypochondriasis; preoccupation with sexual urges or fantasies in the presence of a Paraphilia; or guilty ruminations in the presence of Major Depressive Disorder).
• (E) The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition.

Specify if:

With Poor Insight: if, for most of the time during the current episode the person does not recognize that the obsessions and compulsions are excessive or unreasonable.

Trichotillomania

pamguide.com.au

DSM-IV Definition of trichotillomania (trich, TTM)

The fourth edition of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) defines trichotillomania as:

• Recurrent pulling out of one's hair resulting in noticeable hair loss.
• An increasing sense of tension immediately before pulling out the hair or when attempting to resist the behavior.
• Pleasure, gratification, or relief when pulling out the hair.
• The disturbance is not better accounted for by another mental disorder and is not due to a general medical condition (e.g., a dermatological condition).
• The disturbance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
• Not all patients who pull out their hair meet these strict criteria. Nonetheless, they frequently have a distressing problem that might very well benefit from treatment.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

pamguide.com.au

The American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) defines Body Dysmorphic Disorder as:

• Preoccupation with an imagined defect in appearance. If a slight physical anomaly is present, the person's concern is markedly excessive.
• The preoccupation causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
• The preoccupation is not better accounted for by another mental disorder (e.g., dissatisfaction with body shape and size in Anorexia Nervosa).

Disclaimer

OCD Ireland is making this information available as a courtesy to assist individuals in obtaining information. This organisation is not responsible for any emotional, psychological, or physical injury to any person or persons resulting from the direct or indirect utilisation of any of the public services listed above. Furthermore these assessments may not be monitored and/or created by qualified mental-health professionals, thus any advice/information obtained should be viewed as non-directive and should not be considered as formal Medical/Psychological advice, diagnosis or treatment.