Exam 7: Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders

Excoriation disorder peaks in young adulthood and subsequently lessens in severity.

Heather Padilla is a 42 year-old woman who considers herself a "foodie;" that is, she likes to collect all kinds of condiments, sauces, and seasonings. She takes great pleasure adding to her collection and does not see this as a problem. However, her boyfriend sees her "collection" quite differently and it has started to cause stress in their relationship. He states that Heather does not use these condiments and there are bottles and jars everywhere. When the kitchen cupboards filled up, Heather began storing her "collection" on the counters, in the bathroom, bedroom, and just about on any surface that could hold them. Some of her collection has sat unused for years. Heather has begun to extend her collection to saving napkins, paper plates, restaurant menus, and used take out cartons because "you never know when you might need them." What is the most appropriate diagnosis for Heather?

Some individuals engage in repetitive behaviors hand washing or checking) or mental acts counting) that they feel driven to perform in response to "rigidly applied rules" known only to them). These behaviors are mental acts in response to reducing distress and/or preventing some dreaded event or situation from happening. However, these behaviors or acts are not connected in a realistic way with what they are "designed" to neutralize. At some point, the individual does not recognize these repetitive behaviors as excessive or unreasonable. This is referred to as: