OCD Test — Obsessive-Compulsive Screening (OCI-R)
A free 18-question screen based on the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised. Checks whether intrusive thoughts, checking, washing, and ordering may be worth discussing with a clinician.
What it measures
This is the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory–Revised (OCI-R), developed by Foa et al. (2002). It measures the degree to which 18 common obsessive-compulsive experiences have distressed or bothered you over the past month, across six areas: washing, checking, ordering, obsessing, hoarding, and neutralising. It is one of the most widely used and validated brief OCD screening instruments in clinical research.
How it works
You rate each of 18 statements on a five-point scale from 'Not at all' (0) to 'Extremely' (4), reflecting how much that experience has bothered you in the past month. Your ratings are summed into a total out of 72. A score of 21 or above is the established research threshold for probable OCD; your result is placed in a band that describes what that level of distress suggests and what to do next. The questionnaire takes around four to six minutes.
Tips for an accurate result
- 1OCD is more than hand-washing — OCD can involve intrusive thoughts, mental compulsions (like counting or reviewing), hoarding, ordering, and neutralising rituals as much as visible physical rituals. All six areas covered here are clinically recognised.
- 2Intrusive thoughts alone do not define OCD — Most people experience unwanted thoughts from time to time. In OCD it is the distress they cause and the compulsive attempts to neutralise them that drive the condition — not the thoughts themselves.
- 3Avoidance counts as a compulsion — Avoiding triggers (certain objects, places, or situations) to prevent distress is a common OCD behaviour that can gradually shrink the world you feel able to inhabit. Noting avoidance patterns is useful information for a clinician.
- 4Effective treatment exists — Cognitive Behavioural Therapy with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) has the strongest evidence base for OCD and is recommended by NICE. Many people see significant improvement with the right support.
- 5Bring this result to your appointment — Your score and the specific items that bothered you most can be a helpful starting point for a conversation with a GP or psychologist — you do not need to explain everything from scratch.