Question

An 18-year-old male had a severe dislike for touching door knobs. He feared contamination and spent hours washing his hands if he had to open a door at his office. He spent more than 3-4 hours taking a shower and spent a lot of time cleaning surfaces after "incidental contaminations." Eventually, he stopped waking up in the morning as it was not worth the effort. Identify the disorder he is suffering from:

• A. Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders
• B. Depressive Disorders
• C. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• D. Somatic Symptom Disorder

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), classified under Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders, is indicated by the symptoms presented. - A fear of contamination, a frequent obsession in OCD, is evident. - Compulsive hand washing, prolonged showering, and surface cleaning are performed to mitigate contamination-related anxiety. - The substantial time commitment to these compulsions (3-4 hours for showering and cleaning) highlights the disorder's distress and functional impairment.
Alternative Diagnoses Considered: - Depressive Disorders: While withdrawal and low motivation are present, the primary symptoms are more consistent with OCD. - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): This diagnosis typically requires exposure to a traumatic event, which is not reported here. - Somatic Symptom Disorder: This disorder involves medically unexplained physical symptoms, which is inconsistent with the individual's fears and compulsions.