Obsessive and Compulsive Behaviors
Free Symptom Checker
with Physician-supervised AI
Reviewed By:
Charles Carlson, DO, MS (Psychiatry)
Dr. Carlson graduated from Touro University in Nevada with a degree in osteopathic medicine. He then trained as a resident in Psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals where he was also a chief resident and completed a fellowship in Public and Community Psychiatry. After training, he started practicing in | Addiction Psychiatry at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs where he also teaches Psychiatry residents.
Yu Shirai, MD (Psychiatry)
Dr. Shirai works at the Yotsuya Yui Clinic for mental health treatment for English and Portuguese-speaking patients. He treats a wide range of patients from neurodevelopmental disorders to dementia in children and participates in knowledge sharing through the Diversity Clinic.
Content updated on Mar 7, 2024
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
Worried about your symptoms?
Start the test with our free AI Symptom Checker.
This will help us personalize your assessment.
By starting the symptom checker, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
Try one of these related symptoms.
Going to extremes to counter OCD behavior
Have to force my family to make sure they are clean too
I keep worrying that the gas is still switched on
Change my clothes a few times a day because of cleanliness
Compulsion to check that doors are locked
Doing irrational things to prevent other irrational actions from happening
Getting family to check the locks multiple times before leaving the house
Cleaning hands after touching anything
Feel the need to repeatedle check the locks for reassurance
Often have to persuade my family or friends to get rid of germs
Keep going back to check that locks are correct
Washing hands very frequently
How Ubie Can Help You
With a free 3-min quiz, powered by Ubie's AI and doctors, find possible causes of your symptoms.
This questionnaire is customized to your situation and symptoms, including the following personal information:
Biological Sex - helps us provide relevant suggestions for male vs. female conditions.
Age - adjusts our guidance based on any age-related health factors.
History - considers past illnesses, surgeries, family history, and lifestyle choices.
Your symptoms
Our AI
Your report
Your personal report will tell you
✔ When to see a doctor
✔︎ What causes your symptoms
✔︎ Treatment information etc.
People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
- Doing illogical things to prevent other illogical fears from arising
- Making sure friends are completely clean before touching me
- Scared of becoming contaminated
- Compulsion to check that gas is switched off
- Compulsion to check that windows are closed
- Getting family to wash hands many times
- Scared of becoming unclean
Just 3 minutes.
Developed by doctors.
Try Free Symptom QuizAbout the Symptom
Obsessive and compulsive thoughts are recurrent and persistent thoughts or urges that are unwanted and cause distress. The person attempts to suppress the unwanted thoughts or urges by performing an action (compulsive action). Examples of some repetitive actions/behaviors are hand washing, ordering, checking, praying, counting, or repeating words silently.
Possible Causes
Generally, Obsessive and compulsive behaviors can be related to:
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
A mental illness where a patient has uncontrollable, recurring thoughts, ideas, or sensations (obsessions) that make them feel compelled to do something repeatedly, like cleaning or washing their hands (compulsions).
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that is characterized by attention difficulty, hyperactivity, and inability to control one's behavior (impulsiveness). It often starts in childhood and can cause a child to struggle in school, at home, or in social relationships. It is more common in male children. The causes of ADHD remain unclear but risk factors include genetic factors, tobacco use during pregnancy, premature delivery, and low birth weight.
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Do you make others act on your compulsions?
- Do you frequently feel compelled to check doors and stove switches?
Just 3 minutes.
Developed by doctors.
Try Free Symptom QuizFind Similar Symptoms
Similar symptoms or complaints
Symptoms from similar body parts
Symptoms treated by the same specialty
Reviewed By:
Charles Carlson, DO, MS (Psychiatry)
Dr. Carlson graduated from Touro University in Nevada with a degree in osteopathic medicine. He then trained as a resident in Psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals where he was also a chief resident and completed a fellowship in Public and Community Psychiatry. After training, he started practicing in | Addiction Psychiatry at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs where he also teaches Psychiatry residents.
Yu Shirai, MD (Psychiatry)
Dr. Shirai works at the Yotsuya Yui Clinic for mental health treatment for English and Portuguese-speaking patients. He treats a wide range of patients from neurodevelopmental disorders to dementia in children and participates in knowledge sharing through the Diversity Clinic.
Just 3 minutes.
Developed by doctors.
Try Free Symptom QuizUbie is supervised by 50+ medical experts worldwide
Our symptom checker AI is continuously refined with input from experienced physicians, empowering them to make more accurate diagnoses.
Ubie is recognized by healthcare and tech leaders
“World’s Best Digital
Health Companies”
Newsweek 2024
“Best With AI”
Google Play Best of 2023
“Best in Class”
Digital Health Awards 2023 (Quarterfinalist)
Which is the best Symptom Checker?
Ubie’s symptom checker demonstrated a Top-10 hit accuracy of 71.6%, surpassing the performance of several leading symptom checkers in the market, which averaged around 60% accuracy in similar assessments.
Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1