Checking OCD Treatment

What Is Checking OCD?

Checking OCD is one of the subtypes of obsessive-compulsive disorder and is characterized by a persistent need to repeatedly check things like door locks, stove switches, or other objects.

It is often a result of intrusive thoughts or fears that something might be wrong or harmful if it’s not verified. Those struggling with this disorder often experience significant distress that impacts their quality of life.

Symptoms of Checking OCD

Checking Obsessions

• Safety
  Fear of fire, flood, burglary, or another threat to life or property.
• Health
  Fear of developing a serious illness.
• Mistakes
  Fear of making errors.
• Inappropriate behaviors

Fear of saying something hurtful or harmful in a conversation.

Checking Compulsions

• Physical inspection and reassurance seeking.
  Repeated checking or taking photos of locks and switches.
• Avoidance
  Purposefully avoiding situations or places where a mistake could be made.
• Mental rituals
  Recounting conversations, actions, and behaviors to be certain everything was done correctly.

What Causes Checking OCD?

There isn’t a single cause of this disorder. Instead, it is often diagnosed based on a combination of neurobiological, genetic, cognitive, behavioral, and environmental factors.

One key contributor to the disorder stems from the overwhelming desire to prevent harm or relieve anxiety. Many people with checking OCD experience intense fear of making mistakes or causing harm.

Diagnosis of Checking OCD

Diagnostic Criteria for Checking OCD

Checking OCD is a subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). To receive a formal OCD diagnosis, individuals must meet the following criteria:

• Obsessions, compulsions, or both
  • Obsessions: recurrent, persistent, and unwanted thoughts, urges, or images that cause significant distress or anxiety.
  • Compulsions: Repetitive behaviors or mental acts to reduce anxiety or prevent a feared outcome.
• Significant impact on daily functioning
  The obsessions and compulsions are time-consuming (e.g., more than one hour per day) or interfere with work, relationships, or other important activities.
• Not caused by other factors
  The symptoms cannot be due to substances or medical conditions or be better explained by another mental health disorder (e.g., anxiety or body dysmorphic disorder).

This disorder focuses on fears related to unintentionally causing harm to others or making mistakes, often resulting in excessive double-checking of knobs, switches, and locks. However, a formal checking OCD diagnosis is based on the general OCD criteria noted above.

Checking OCD Assessment and Tools

During a clinical evaluation, a licensed therapist at Beach House Center for Recovery can diagnose this subtype using a variety of checking OCD tests, assessments, tools, and questionnaires. They include:

• Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS)
• Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (DOCS)
• Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (OCI)
• Vancouver Obsessional Compulsive Inventory (VOCI)

Treatment Options for Checking OCD

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Checking OCD

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is an effective checking OCD treatment. It uses a technique called Exposure and Response Prevention. This approach helps change your response to intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. By gradually exposing yourself to situations that trigger fears of harm or mistakes, you learn to resist the urge to act on them. Over time, this helps reduce the severity of OCD symptoms.

Medication for Checking OCD

There is no FDA-approved medication for specifically treating checking OCD. Certain antianxiety and mood stabilizing medications may be used along with CBT and ERP to help reduce your symptoms.

Combining Therapy and Medication for Best Results

Your Beach House Center for Recovery therapist will prescribe medicines based on your unique needs, symptoms, and severity.

Behavioral Interventions and Self-Help Strategies

Here is how to stop checking OCD symptoms at home that negatively impact your daily functioning:

• Engage in regular mindfulness practices (e.g., deep breathing exercises, meditation, yoga, journaling).
• Allow yourself a set amount of time to check (and then stop).
• Keep a journal of triggers (e.g., situations or thoughts) that lead to checking behaviors.
• Challenge your intrusive thoughts and remind yourself that checking is not necessary.

Personalized Care for Checking OCD at Beach House Center for Recovery

Our licensed therapists provide compassionate mental health and checking OCD treatment to help you manage intrusive thoughts and behaviors and improve your overall quality of life.

Our skilled team is ready to help you manage obsessive-compulsive disorder or its subtypes and support any co-occurring conditions. Contact our caring admissions counselors for more information and to start your recovery journey.