Shorter communication
Compulsive washing in the absence of phobic and illness anxiety

https://doi.org/10.1016/0005-7967(95)00079-8Get rights and content

Abstract

A new typology of washing compulsions has been proposed: those that arise from a sense of dirtiness, those that arise from a sense of mental pollution, and finally, those that arise from a fear of illness. A case series is reported suggesting that a further class of washing behaviour can be described attributable to the personality trait of perfectionism.

References (6)

There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (54)

  • Cognitive Training via a Mobile Application to Reduce Obsessive-Compulsive-Related Distress and Cognitions During the COVID-19 Outbreaks: A Randomized Controlled Trial Using a Subclinical Cohort

    2022, Behavior Therapy
    Citation Excerpt :

    Daily cognitive exercises including identification and categorization of self-statements, repeated presentation of adaptive self-statements to the user, and psychoeducation may have promoted retrieval of adaptive beliefs over maladaptive ones, thereby reducing the severity of OCD symptoms. Cognitive-behavioral models of OCD state that dysfunctional obsessive beliefs including overestimation of threat and responsibility, the importance of thoughts, intolerance of uncertainty, and perfectionism are closely associated with OCD symptoms (e.g., Moulding et al., 2011; Tallis, 1996). Obsessive beliefs are also believed to be crucial factors in understanding the reactions of people to the pandemic.

View all citing articles on Scopus
View full text