Interviewers' notes about section F: Compulsions and obsessions
Compulsions and obsessions are rather different than most of the other
things you'll be asking about because they're not like ordinary experiences.
Everyone has been worried or miserable but most people have no idea what
a true obsession or compulsion is like. The important thing here is that
it is not the same thing as an ordinary bedtime ritual or a 'not stepping
on the cracks in the pavement' ritual. It is not the same as being much
neater or more perfectionist than average. It is not the same as feeling
that you've just got to eat that chocolate bar or buy that record. A child
with true obsessive-compulsive symptoms may need to check plugs or gas taps
twenty times, or may need to shower or wash their hands dozens of times
each day, or may need to wear gloves before being willing to touch door
knobs. The preamble to the section is long and mostly you will feel that
you are wasting your time - it will ring no bells with most parents or
children. But for the 1% of children who do have obsessions and compulsions,
they or their family will recognise what you mean and they are often very
surprised and pleased to know that there are other person in the world who
experience this.
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Last modified : 05/09/09