Obsessive Compulsive Inventory (Foa, Kozak, Salkovskis, Coles, and Amir, 1998)

Reprinted and used with the permission of Edna B. Foa (personal communication, November 2,
2013)

The statements below refer to experiences that many people have in their everyday lives. In
the column labelled FREQUENCY, CIRCLE the number next to each statement that best describes
how FREQUENTLY YOU HAVE HAD THE EXPERIENCE IN THE PAST MONTH. The numbers in this
column refer to the following labels:

0 = never 1 = almost never 2 = sometimes 3 = often 4 = almost

always

Then, in the column labelled DISTRESS, CIRCLE the number that best describes HOW MUCH
that experience has DISTRESSED or BOTHERED YOU DURING THE PAST MONTH. The
numbers in this column refer to the following labels:

0 = not at all 1 = a little 2 = moderately 3 = a lot 4 = extremely

Frequency Distress

Moderately
Often

A little
Never

Not at all
Sometimes

A lot
Almost never

Almost always

Extremely
1. Unpleasant thoughts come into my mind against my will and I
0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4
cannot get rid of them.
2. I think contact with bodily secretions (perspiration, saliva, blood, urine,
0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4
etc.) may contaminate my clothes or somehow harm me.
3. I ask people to repeat things to me several times, even
0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4
though I understood them the first time.

4. I wash and clean obsessively. 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4

5. I have to review mentally past events, conversations and actions to

0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4
make sure that I didn't do something wrong.

6. I have saved up so many things that they get in the way. 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4

7. I check things more often than necessary. 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4

8. I avoid using public toilets because I am afraid of disease or 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4

contamination.

9. I repeatedly check doors, windows, drawers etc. 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4

10. I repeatedly check gas and water taps and light switches after
0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4
turning them off.

11. I collect things I don't need. 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4

12. I have thoughts of having hurt someone without knowing it. 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4

13. I have thoughts that I might want to harm myself or others. 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4

Foa, E.B., Kozak, M.J., Salkovskis, P.M., Coles, M.E., and Amir, N. (1998). The validation of a new obsessive-
compulsive
disorder scale: The Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory. Psychological Assessment, 10(3), 206-214.
 Frequency Distress

Moderately
Often

A little
Never

Not at all
Sometimes

A lot
Almost never

Almost always

Extremely
14. I get upset if objects are not arranged properly. 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4

15. I feel obliged to follow a particular order in dressing, undressing and

0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4
washing myself.

16. I feel compelled to count while I am doing things. 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4

17. I am afraid of impulsively doing embarrassing or harmful things. 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4

18. I need to pray to cancel bad thoughts or feelings. 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4

19. I keep on checking forms or other things I have written. 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4

20. I get upset at the sight of knives, scissors and other sharp objects
0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4
in case I lose control with them.

21. I am excessively concerned about cleanliness. 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4

22. I find it difficult to touch an object when I know it has been

0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4
touched by strangers or certain people.

23. I need things to be arranged in a particular order. 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4

24. I get behind in my work because I repeat things over and over again. 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4

25. I feel I have to repeat certain numbers. 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4

26. After doing something carefully, I still have the impression I

0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4
have not finished it.

27. I find it difficult to touch garbage or dirty things. 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4

28. I find it difficult to control my own thoughts. 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4

29. I have to do things over and over again until it feels right. 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4

30. I am upset by unpleasant thoughts that come into my mind

0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4
against my will.

31. Before going to sleep I have to do certain things in a certain way. 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4

32. I go back to places to make sure that I have not harmed anyone. 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4

33. I frequently get nasty thoughts and have difficulty in getting rid of 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4
them.
34. I avoid throwing things away because I am afraid I might need them 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4
later.
35. I get upset if others change the way I have arranged my things. 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4

Frequency Distress

Foa, E.B., Kozak, M.J., Salkovskis, P.M., Coles, M.E., and Amir, N. (1998). The validation of a new obsessive-
compulsive
disorder scale: The Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory. Psychological Assessment, 10(3), 206-214.
 Moderately
Often

A little
Never

Not at all
Sometimes

A lot
Almost never

Almost always

Extremely
36. I feel that I must repeat certain words or phrases in my mind in
0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4
order to wipe out bad thoughts, feelings or actions.
37. After I have done things, I have persistent doubts about whether I
0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4
really did them.
38. I sometimes have to wash or clean myself simply because I
0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4
feel contaminated.

39. I feel that there are good and bad numbers. 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4

40. I repeatedly check anything which might cause a fire. 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4

41. Even when I do something very carefully I feel that it is not quite 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4
right.

42. I wash my hands more often or longer than necessary. 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4

For Therapist Use

Washing
Checking
Doubting
Ordering
Obsessions
Neutralizing
Total

Foa, E.B., Kozak, M.J., Salkovskis, P.M., Coles, M.E., and Amir, N. (1998). The validation of a new obsessive-
compulsive
disorder scale: The Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory. Psychological Assessment, 10(3), 206-214.