... in public. Such obsessional thoughts are widespread with 90% of people reporting their occurrence (Rachman & de Silva, 1978; Salkovskis & Harrison, 1984) yet few develop such exaggerated behaviour that a single aspect of life becomes one's sole reason for being. The obsession usually produces a feeling of anxiety and the urge to neutralize the obsession by carrying out a particular behaviour. The act is performed with a sense of subjective compulsion and a desire to resist the compulsion. Compulsions are stereotyped, repetitive behaviours, performed according to strict rules. The behaviour is designed to prevent some future event and thus alleviate anxiety, eg. a patient may repeatedly have the obsessive thought that objects are covered with "cancer germs" and so compulsively wash their hands. Other common compulsions include counting, checking, touching, and hoarding (DSM III-R, 1987). The victim often realises the action is futile and irrational, with 78% of patients ...

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