Skip to content
HelpClinic

Intrusive Thoughts and Compulsions Test

Eight questions about the mechanism the WHO describes as the core of obsessive-compulsive disorder: an intrusive thought, the distress, the pull to do something, brief relief, then the return. It covers the past 30 days and takes about 3 minutes.

0 / 8

Instructions

This questionnaire does not ask about the content of intrusive thoughts β€” that differs from person to person (contamination, harm, symmetry, thoughts we are ashamed of, doubts about people close to us). It asks about the mechanism they share: a thought arrives uninvited, it creates distress, an urge to do something follows, doing it brings relief β€” and then it all comes back.

Answer eight questions, thinking about the past 30 days. You can take the result to a conversation with a psychologist or psychiatrist.

Important: This is a self-reflection tool developed by HelpClinic, not a diagnostic test. Most people have intrusive thoughts with aggressive or taboo content, and they do not mean someone is dangerous β€” in OCD what matters is how terrifying such thoughts feel, not any wish to act on them.

All the tests and self-help tools are in the HelpClinic app.

Download for free

Source, licence and disclaimer

This is a self-reflection tool developed by HelpClinic. It is for information only and does not replace a professional diagnosis. It is not a validated psychometric questionnaire, and the boundaries between score levels are not clinical thresholds. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (ICD-11 6B20) is diagnosed only by a clinician. OCD responds well to treatment β€” cognitive behavioural therapy with exposure and response prevention (ERP), and medication where needed, both have strong evidence behind them. If intrusive thoughts or compulsions are taking your time or causing you distress, talk to a psychologist or psychiatrist.