Obsessive–Compulsive Inventory (OCI-R)

About This Assessment

What is the OCI-R?

The Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (OCI) was created to help people understand the severity of obsessive-compulsive experiences. The OCI-R is a shorter, 18-question version designed to be completed in just 5-10 minutes in the comfort of your own space.

Each question asks you to reflect on how much a particular experience has bothered you recently. It's a chance to pause and notice patterns you might not have paid attention to before.

Understanding the Six Areas

The OCI-R explores six different dimensions of experience. Each area tells us something unique about the kinds of thoughts or behaviors that might be causing distress:

• Washing & Cleaning: Feelings of contamination and urges to wash or clean more than seems necessary
• Checking: The need to repeatedly verify things like locks, switches, or safety
• Ordering & Arranging: Discomfort when things aren't arranged 'just right' or in a specific way
• Intrusive Thoughts: Unwanted, intrusive thoughts that are difficult to control or dismiss
• Saving & Collecting: Difficulty letting go of possessions, even when they're no longer needed
• Mental Rituals: Mental habits or rituals used to reduce anxiety or prevent feared outcomes

How Scoring Works

Each question uses a gentle 0-4 scale, where 0 means 'not at all' and 4 means 'extremely.' Your responses help calculate both an overall distress score and individual scores for each of the six areas.

The scores are presented as averages, making them easier to understand and compare.

• A total score of 21 or higher may suggest OCD-related experiences worth exploring further
• An average of 2.5 or higher in any area indicates that dimension might be particularly significant for you

Making Sense of Your Results

Remember: this is a self-reflection tool, not a diagnosis. Higher scores suggest more distress in certain areas, but only a qualified mental health professional can provide a proper evaluation.

Whatever your results show, they're simply information to help you understand yourself better. If anything resonates or concerns you, consider reaching out to a mental health professional who can provide personalized guidance.

References

• Foa, E.B., Huppert, J.D., Leiberg, S., Langner, R., Kichic, R., Hajcak, G., & Salkovskis, P.M. (2002). The obsessive–compulsive inventory: Development and validation of a short version. Psychological Assessment, 14, 485-496.
• Foa, E.B., Kozak, M.J., Salkovskis, P., Coles, M.E., & Amir, N. (1998). The validation of a new obsessive–compulsive disorder scale: The Obsessive–Compulsive Inventory. Psychological Assessment, 10, 206-214.
• National Institute of Mental Health: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder