The phenomenology of severe obsessive-compulsive neurosis

The case histories are examined of 41 patients who were admitted to hospital for the first time with a diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive neurosis. Aspects of the phenomenology are reported which presented between the first appearance of obsessive-compulsive symptoms and discharge from the first admission. The mean age for admission was 31-6 years (SD 14-3) and 68 per cent of the sample were women. The women showed significantly higher incidences of contamination phobia and of compulsive cleaning behaviour than did the men. Cleaning behaviour and avoidance of feared stimuli were the most frequently encountered manifestations of compulsive behaviour.