CAIE A-Level Psychology 1.5.1 OCD criteria
Practise recognising OCD obsessions, compulsions and assessment measures in scenarios, with ICD-11 criteria and Y-BOCS evidence.
- Syllabus
- 2028–2030
- Course
- Psychology 9990
- Level
- A2
Exam points
- link intrusive thoughts and repeated washing or ordering to ICD-11 OCD criteria
- outline how Y-BOCS or interview evidence can help or limit diagnosis of OCD
- use Rapoport's Charles study to describe types of obsession and compulsion
1.5.1—OCD criteria question 1
[Maximum number: 4]
Sarah is always thinking about germs. At work she eats lunch alone as she believes this will protect her colleagues. She always washes her hands for 15 minutes in very hot water. She feels better after this, but after 45 minutes she wants to wash again. When Sarah gets home, she washes her clothing, shoes and coat. One day, when Sarah had sat next to a colleague, she could not sleep that night as she was convinced that he would get ill.
Explain how Sarah meets the diagnostic criteria for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Award 3-4 marks for a detailed answer with clear understanding of how Sarah fits the diagnostic criteria for OCD.
Award 1-2 marks for a basic answer with some understanding of how Sarah fits the diagnostic criteria for OCD.
Diagnostic criteria ICD-11
- Presence of persistent obsessions/compulsions
- Obsessions are repetitive and persistent that are intrusive/unwanted
- Compulsions are repetitive behaviour or rituals
- Obsessions and compulsions are time-consuming or result in significant distress/impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
4
1 max for reference to Sarah's obsession/belief = germs, protect colleagues, colleague gets ill.
1 max for reference to Sarah compulsion - washing hands for 15 mins /very hot water, washing clothing, shoes, coat.
1 max for reference to persistence/time-consuming = always thinking about, takes up to at least an hour a day ( 15 min every 45).
1 max for explain why obsession is irrational.
1 mark for explain that the compulsion acts to reduce the anxiety created by the obsession.
2 max for reference to impairment in life (couldn't sleep, sitting alone at lunch).
Allow reference to both ICD and DSM guides.
Do not credit 'obsessions and compulsions' on its own as in the question.
The response must identify both obsessions and compulsions from the stem to be awarded full marks.
1
Example:
Sarah fits the diagnostic criteria for OCD as she is experiencing obsessions and compulsions. One of her obsessions is thinking about germs. (1) This is something Sarah thinks about frequently, so it is persistent. (1) In addition, Sarah engages in compulsions which include washing her hands for 15 minutes in very hot water. (1) Sarah's behaviour is repetitive and/or ritualistic (e.g. 15 minutes of hand washing and/or washing her clothing, shoes and coat).
When she washes her hands, she does feel better, however her anxiety returns, and she has to wash her hands again which is time-consuming and excessive. (1) Her obsessions and compulsions are having a negative effect on her job as she is spending time washing her hands as well as feeling distressed with her thoughts about germs. (1) She is also missing out on socialising with her colleagues at lunchtime as she has to sit alone. (1) The other negative effect she is experiencing is not being able to sleep at night if she accidentally touches someone. (1)
Other appropriate responses should also be credited.
DSM-5 is creditworthy
Presence of obsessions and/or compulsions.
Obsessions are recurrent/persistent thoughts that are intrusive/unwanted - thoughts are neutralised with some other thought/action.
Compulsions are repetitive behaviours/mental acts that the individual feels driven to perform in response to an obsession or according to rules that must be applied rigidly. The compulsion is aimed at preventing/reducing anxiety; however, these behaviours are excessive. Obsessions and/or compulsions are time-consuming or cause significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
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