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What Are The Symptoms Of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?

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Posted on Tue, 3 Mar 2015
Question: Is it possible and/or common for someone with OCD to not fit the stereotype of one who is excessively concerned with overall cleanliness and order but limits the behavior to select areas, e.g., hand washing, fear of germs, yet lives in complete disorder and fails to maintain a basic level of cleanliness in her own home while cleaning the doorknobs and other items with antibacterial wipes frequently throughout the day.
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Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (21 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Yes its common in OCD patients to show obsessions in specific areas

Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for choosing HCM for your health related queries

OCD is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and it is a type of anxiety disorder. It is characterised by Obsessions and Compulsions. Obsessive thinkings can develop in any area like in cleanness, orderliness, doubts, hoarding etc. To some extent obsessive thinking is found in a lot of individuals but only if it start to hamper day to day functioning and cause impairment then it is classified in OCD.

So it is possible that an individual doesn't fit into classical symptoms like over concern with cleanness but may show obsessions limited to specific area like you have mentioned. Even repetitive hand washing, fear of germs, cleaning of door knobs etc if cause impairment can classify an individual into OCD.

Thanks, please ask again if you have some more doubts related to OCD.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 5193 Questions

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What Are The Symptoms Of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?

Brief Answer: Yes its common in OCD patients to show obsessions in specific areas Detailed Answer: Hello thanks for choosing HCM for your health related queries OCD is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and it is a type of anxiety disorder. It is characterised by Obsessions and Compulsions. Obsessive thinkings can develop in any area like in cleanness, orderliness, doubts, hoarding etc. To some extent obsessive thinking is found in a lot of individuals but only if it start to hamper day to day functioning and cause impairment then it is classified in OCD. So it is possible that an individual doesn't fit into classical symptoms like over concern with cleanness but may show obsessions limited to specific area like you have mentioned. Even repetitive hand washing, fear of germs, cleaning of door knobs etc if cause impairment can classify an individual into OCD. Thanks, please ask again if you have some more doubts related to OCD.