A college student is brought to the student health center at the urging of his roommate. He has been missing class because he needs to check the room lock many times before he can leave. Once he stas to ride his bicycle to class, he frequently returns several times to lock the door. He repeats this ritual every morning and often when he leaves the house. He misses his appointments and his academic performance suffers. His hands are chafed. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
A college student is brought to the student health center at the urging of his roommate. He has been missing class because he needs to check the room lock many times before he can leave. Once he stas to ride his bicycle to class, he frequently returns several times to lock the door. He repeats this ritual every morning and often when he leaves the house. He misses his appointments and his academic performance suffers. His hands are chafed. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
💡 Explanation
**Core Concept**
The student's behavior describes a pattern of excessive and repetitive checking, which is a hallmark of a specific anxiety disorder. This disorder is characterized by a persistent and distressing preoccupation with a particular thought or action, leading to significant impairment in daily functioning.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The student's behavior of repeatedly checking the room lock is a classic example of **Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)**. People with OCD often experience intrusive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) that trigger repetitive behaviors (compulsions) aimed at reducing anxiety. In this case, the student's compulsion to check the lock multiple times is driven by an obsession that the door might not be secure. This cycle of obsession and compulsion leads to significant distress and impairment in daily functioning.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** While generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) involves excessive worry, it does not typically involve the repetitive checking behavior seen in OCD.
**Option B:** Social anxiety disorder involves fear of social situations, which is not relevant to this scenario.
**Option C:** Avoidant personality disorder is characterized by social inhibition and feelings of inadequacy, but it does not involve the specific symptoms described.
**Option D:** This option is not provided.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
A key feature of OCD is that the compulsion is aimed at reducing the anxiety caused by the obsession, but it often fails to do so, leading to a vicious cycle. This understanding is crucial for diagnosing and treating OCD effectively.
**Correct Answer: C. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)**
✓ Correct Answer: B. Obsessive compulsive disorder
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