A symptom checklist to help clients reflect on obsessions and compulsions and explore whether further psychological assessment may be beneficial.
Offers theory, guidance, and prompts for mental health professionals. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.
Includes client-friendly guidance. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by the presence of obsessions, compulsions, or both. Obsessions are persistent, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that often cause distress. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed in response to obsessions, typically to reduce anxiety or prevent feared outcomes. This symptom checklist is designed to help clients and clinicians explore whether their experiences may reflect features of OCD. It is not intended to provide a diagnosis or assess severity, but it can support early discussions about whether further evaluation is warranted.
OCD often goes unrecognized or misattributed to general worry or personality traits. This resource:
For clients experiencing unwanted thoughts, compulsions, or distressing rituals.
Gently introduce the possibility of OCD using the suggested therapeutic prompt.
Review the checklist collaboratively to assess thoughts, behaviors, and emotional impact.
Consider the frequency and level of interference caused by the symptoms.
Use insights from the checklist to determine whether to explore OCD further through structured assessment or psychoeducation.
According to the DSM-5, OCD is defined by the presence of obsessions (e.g., intrusive thoughts, images, or urges) and/or compulsions (e.g., behaviors or mental acts performed to neutralise obsessions) that are time-consuming or cause significant distress or impairment. The ICD-11 includes similar criteria, specifying that symptoms must be present for an extended period, interfere with functioning, and may only allow continued functioning through considerable additional effort.
Obsessions can take many forms — fears of contamination, harming others, or intrusive violent or sexual imagery. Compulsions may include physical acts like washing or checking, or mental rituals like repeating phrases or silently reviewing events. These behaviors are often excessive and not realistically connected to the feared consequence.
This symptom checklist is informed by both DSM-5 and ICD-11 criteria. It is not intended to provide a formal diagnosis or assess severity but may support early recognition and therapeutic exploration. Clinicians can use it to validate a client’s experiences and facilitate conversations that may lead to further assessment.
