Pure-O OCD – intrusive thoughts/images with only mental compulsions such as rumination or self-reassurance

Contamination OCD – fears about getting sick (e.g., COVID, HIV/AIDS, cancer) or intense feelings of disgust

• Disgust OCD – fear of coming into contact with someone/something that is “dirty” leading one to feel disgusted
• Responsibility OCD – fear of contracting and passing a disease to others

Somatic OCD – obsessive concerns of bodily sensations

• Hyperawareness of bodily sensations (e.g., blinking, swallowing, heart beat, tingling)
• Fear you may never stop noticing sensations
• Fear that bodily sensations may be a sign of a serious condition (e.g., heart attack)

Harm OCD – fears about harming others

• Fear of harming a child, loved one, or stranger
• Fear of self-harm or suicide
• Fear of sexually assaulting someone in past or future
• Hit-and-run – fear of harming someone while driving
• Postpartum – fear of harming your newborn baby

Relationship OCD – obsessive concerns about not being with the “right” person or that your partner may leave you

• Fear of being with the “wrong person”
• Fear your partner might not be “the one”
• Fear you may not be attracted to your partner
• Fear you don’t love your partner or that your partner doesn’t love you
• Fear your partner may leave you

Sexual Orientation OCD – obsessive concerns about possibly having a different sexual identity

• Fear you may be a different sexual orientation
• Fear of being/becoming transgender

Existential OCD – obsessions with philosophical questions or not understanding reality

• Fear of never knowing what you truly believe or want in life
• Fear of being in a dream or a different reality
• Fear of not understanding consciousness

Scrupulosity (Religious OCD) – obsessive concerns regarding religious and moral beliefs

• Fear of consequences for going against religious beliefs/rules
• Fear of sinning or doing something immoral
• Fear of afterlife

Pedophilia OCD – obsessive concerns about being a child molester

• Fears of having conducted acts of pedophilia in the past or that you may in the future
• Fear that intrusive thoughts/images about children means you are a pedophile
• Fear of having an arousal (e.g., groinal) response around children

“Just Right” OCD – a strong urge/need for absolute order, symmetry, cleanliness, and scheduling

• Engaging in a task until it feels “right”
• Difficulty tolerating anything not in its “correct” place
• Making decisions based on which one feels “right” which leads to procrastination
• Need clothing to fit or look “right”

Racism OCD – obsessive concerns about being a racist

• Fear of yelling racial slurs in public
• Fear of being “cancelled” for saying something politically incorrect

Mental Illness OCD – obsessive concerns about becoming severely mentally ill

• Fear of developing a severe mental illness (e.g., schizophrenia)
• Fear of going “crazy” and losing control
• Fear OCD symptoms may be hallucinations/delusions