OCD test: do I have OCD? (OCI-R)
This free OCD test uses the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory–Revised (OCI-R), an 18-question self-report used by clinicians and researchers worldwide. It asks how much each experience has distressed or bothered you over the past month, and gives you a validated score out of 72. It is a screening tool, not a diagnosis, and your answers stay on your device.
Get your detailed report by email
Add your name and email and, after you finish, a psychologist will send a detailed written breakdown of your result and what helps next. Your result also shows on screen right away.
If you skip, you'll still see your result on screen, but you won't get the detailed written analysis by email.
This is a screening tool, not a diagnosis. The OCI-R helps identify signs of OCD — only a qualified professional can confirm it through a full assessment. If you are in crisis, call Tele-MANAS at 14416 or see our crisis-helpline page.
Based on the OCI-R © Edna B. Foa, 2002. Foa EB, Huppert JD, Leiberg S, Langner R, Kichic R, Hajcak G, Salkovskis PM. The Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory: development and validation of a short version. Psychological Assessment. 2002;14(4):485-496. Reproduced for screening use.
What this OCD test measures
This free OCD test uses the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory–Revised (OCI-R), an 18-question self-report used by clinicians and researchers worldwide. It covers the six ways OCD most often shows up: washing and contamination fears, checking, ordering and symmetry, obsessing (unwanted intrusive thoughts), hoarding, and mental neutralizing such as counting or repeating.
You rate how much each experience has distressed or bothered you over the past month, from 0 (not at all) to 4 (extremely). The 18 answers add up to a score out of 72. It takes about three minutes, runs entirely in your browser, and your answers are not saved unless you choose to get in touch.
What your OCD score means
A total of 21 or higher is the cut-off Dr. Edna Foa and colleagues found best separates people with OCD from those without it. It is a screening signal, not a diagnosis.
| Score | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| 0–10 | Below the cut-off. Everyday checking and tidiness, OCD unlikely on this measure. |
| 11–20 | Some symptoms, just under the cut-off of 21. Worth watching, especially if one symptom is intense. |
| 21–40 | At or above the cut-off of 21. Symptoms consistent with OCD, a professional assessment is worth it. |
| 41–72 | High. Strong obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Support from a psychologist is recommended. |
Obsessions and compulsions, in plain terms
Obsessions are unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that keep coming back and cause anxiety, for example a fear of contamination, of harm coming to someone, or a need for things to feel just right. Compulsions are the things you do to ease that anxiety: washing, checking, counting, arranging, repeating, or seeking reassurance. The relief is real but short, so the cycle repeats and grows.
Almost everyone double-checks a door or dislikes mess sometimes. It becomes OCD when the thoughts and rituals take real time (often an hour or more a day), cause distress, or get in the way of work, study, or relationships.
What to do with your result
OCD is common and very treatable. The evidence-based therapy is exposure and response prevention (ERP), a structured form of CBT where you gradually face the fear without the ritual, so your brain learns the feared outcome does not happen and the anxiety fades on its own. Most people see meaningful improvement, and therapy can be done entirely online.
ElloMind connects you with licensed, Malayalam and English speaking psychologists, online, in your timezone. If your score is at or above 21, or if these patterns are eating into your day, a first session is a good place to start.
Common questions
What is the OCI-R OCD test?
The Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory–Revised (OCI-R) is a validated 18-question self-report screening tool for OCD, developed by Dr. Edna Foa and colleagues in 2002. It scores obsessive-compulsive symptoms from 0 to 72 across six domains. It is a screening aid, not a diagnosis.
What OCI-R score suggests OCD?
A total score of 21 or higher is the widely used cut-off suggesting OCD is likely and worth a professional assessment. Below 21 makes OCD less likely on this measure, though an intense single symptom can still be worth discussing.
Is this OCD test accurate?
The OCI-R is one of the most researched OCD self-report measures, with good reliability and a validated cut-off of 21. It is a screen, not a diagnosis. A qualified professional confirms OCD through a full assessment that rules out other explanations.
Can OCD be cured or treated?
OCD is very treatable. The first-line therapy is exposure and response prevention (ERP), a form of CBT, sometimes alongside medication prescribed by a psychiatrist. Most people improve significantly, and therapy works well online.
Is it OCD or just being neat and careful?
Liking order or double-checking is common and healthy. It leans towards OCD when the thoughts are unwanted and distressing, the rituals feel hard to resist, and together they take real time or interfere with daily life. This test helps you gauge where you fall.
Is it a problem that I keep checking my symptoms online?
Repeatedly seeking reassurance, including retaking tests, can itself become a compulsion for some people with OCD, because the relief never quite lasts. Taking this once to decide whether to talk to someone is useful. If you notice you cannot stop checking, that is worth mentioning to a psychologist too.
Is this OCD test free and private?
Yes. It is free, needs no login, and runs in your browser. Your answers are not saved unless you choose to share your number for a detailed analysis.
Is this OCD test for adults or teenagers?
The OCI-R was developed and validated with adults, so this test is written for adults (18 and over). A teenager can still get a rough sense from it, but for anyone under 18 a clinician-led assessment is more appropriate, because OCD can look different in children and overlaps with other things at that age.
Sources
- Foa EB, Huppert JD, Leiberg S, Langner R, Kichic R, Hajcak G, Salkovskis PM. The Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory: development and validation of a short version. Psychological Assessment. 2002;14(4):485-496.
- The OCI-R is © Edna B. Foa, 2002, and is reproduced here for screening use without modification.