Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder 237
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Diagnostic Criteria 300.3 (F42)
A. Presence of obsessions, compulsions, or both: 
Obsessions are defined by (1) and (2): 
1. Recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges, or images that are experienced, at some
time during the disturbance, as intrusive and unwanted, and that in most individuals
cause marked anxiety or distress.
2. The individual attempts to ignore or suppres s such thoughts, urges, or images, or to
neutralize them with some other thought or  action (i.e., by performing a compulsion). 
Compulsions are defined by (1) and (2): 
1. Repetitive behaviors (e.g., hand washing, ordering, checking) or mental acts (e.g.,
praying, counting, repeating words silently ) that the individual feels driven to per-
form in response to an obsession or according to rules that must be applied rigidly.
2. The behaviors or mental acts are aimed at preventing or reducing anxiety or dis-
tress, or preventing some dreaded event or situation; however, these behaviors or
mental acts are not connected in a realistic way with what they are designed to neu-
tralize or prevent, or are clearly excessive.
Note:  Young children may not be able to articulate the aims of these behaviors or
mental acts.
B. The obsessions or compulsions are time-consuming (e.g., take more than 1 hour per
day) or cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or
other important areas of functioning. 
C. The obsessive-compulsive symptoms are not attributable to the physiological effects
of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or another medical condition.