Obsessional-compulsive checking: Experimental replication and development

The purpose of this experiment was to resolve some inconclusive findings from an earlier study on the effects of compulsive checking rituals. Twelve obsessional-compulsive checkers carried out a provoking act followed by their compulsive checking ritual, in natural situations, under two conditions—E present and E absent. The provoking act produced subjective discomfort, tension, worry and anxiety; these feelings were reduced after completion of the checking ritual. Both the increases and post-ritual decreases in discomfort were more pronounced in the spontaneous occurrence condition (E absent). The results are consistent with the hypothesis that compulsive rituals serve to reduce discomfort.