Compulsions
Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts a person feels driven to perform to reduce anxiety or prevent a feared event, often in response to obsessions.
Definition
Compulsions are the "actions" side of the OCD cycle — checking, washing, counting, arranging, or mental rituals performed to relieve distress. They provide only temporary relief and tend to reinforce the cycle. Screening measures their frequency and severity; treatment is available and effective.
What it can feel like
- Repeatedly checking that doors are locked.
- Washing hands until they feel "clean enough."
- Arranging objects until they feel "right."
- Silently repeating words or prayers to neutralize a thought.
Related screening tests on LuriaLab
Related glossary terms
Domande frequenti
Why are compulsions hard to stop?
They briefly reduce anxiety, which reinforces the behavior. Over time this strengthens the obsession-compulsion cycle, which therapy can help break.
Are compulsions always visible?
No. Many compulsions are mental — counting, reviewing, or repeating phrases — and are not obvious to others.
Sources
- Foa EB, et al. OCI-R
- NICE — OCD guidance
Last reviewed: 2026-07-02. Screening tools on LuriaLab are for education only and do not provide a diagnosis.