TELLING CHILDREN ABOUT DEATH

FLORIDA OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE INVENTORY (FOCI) © Wayne Goodman 1994 [This is the Self-Test for OCD]
General Instructions: The questions below are designed to identify some of the common symptoms of OCD. Keep in mind, a high score on this questionnaire does not necessarily mean you have OCD. Only an evaluation by a health professional can make this determination. Answer these questions as accurately as you can. PART A Instructions: Please click on YES or NO for the following questions, based on your experience in the PAST MONTH: Have you been bothered by unpleasant thoughts or images that repeatedly enter your mind, such as:
1. Concerns with contamination (dirt, germs, chemicals, radiation) or acquiring a serious illness such as AIDS?	Yes No
2. Overconcern with keeping objects (clothing, tools, etc) in perfect order or arranged exactly?	Yes No
3. Images of death or other horrible events?	Yes No
4. Personally unacceptable religious or sexual thoughts?	Yes No
Have you worried a lot about terrible things happening, such as:
5. Fire, burglary or flooding of the house?	Yes No
6. Accidentally hitting a pedestrian with your car or letting it roll down a hill?	Yes No
7. Spreading an illness (giving someone AIDS)?	Yes No
8. Losing something valuable?	Yes No
9. Harm coming to a loved one because you weren't careful enough?	Yes No
Have you felt driven to perform certain acts over and over again, such as:
11. Excessive or ritualized washing, cleaning or grooming?	Yes No
12. Checking light switches, water faucets, the stove, door locks or the emergency brake?	Yes No
13. Counting, arranging; evening-up behaviors (making sure socks are at same height)?	Yes No
14. Collecting useless objects or inspecting the garbage before it is thrown out?	Yes No
15. Repeating routine actions (in/out of chair, going through doorway, relighting cigarette) a certain number of times or until it feels *just right*?	Yes No
16. Needing to touch objects or people?	Yes No
17. Unnecessary rereading or rewriting; reopening envelopes before they are mailed?	Yes No
18. Examining your body for signs of illness?	Yes No
19. Avoiding colors ("red" means blood), numbers ("13" is unlucky) or names (those that start with "D" signify death) that are associated with dreaded events or unpleasant thoughts?	Yes No
20. Needing to "confess" or repeatedly asking for reassurance that you said or did something correctly?	Yes No
*If you answered YES to 3 or more of these questions, please continue with Part B.*

PART B Instructions: The following questions refer to the repeated thoughts, images, urges or behaviors identified in Part A. Consider your experience during the past 30 days when selecting an answer.

Choose the number, from 0 to 4, that represents the most appropriate answer.

In the past month...

1. On average, how much time is occupied by these thoughts or behaviors each day?

None

Mild (less than1 hour)

Moderate (1 to 3 hours)

Severe (3 to 8 hours)

Extreme (more than 8 hours)

2. How much distress do they cause you?

None

Mild

Moderate

Severe

Extreme (disabling)

3. How hard is it for you to control them?

Complete control

Much control

Moderate control

Little control

No control

4. How much do they cause you to avoid doing anything, going anyplace or being with anyone?

None

Occasional avoidance

Moderate avoidance

Frequent and extensive avoidance

Extreme avoidance (house-bound)

5. How much do they interfere with school, work or your social or family life?

None

Slight interference

Definitely interferes with
functioning

Much interference

Extreme interference (disabling)

After answering the questions in Part B, total your score, the range is from 0 to a maximum of 20. If you score 8 or more, it is recommended that you consider consulting a mental health professional.

Contact Information:

The Child Center and Adult Services, Inc. - Shady Grove Professional Building,
16220 South Frederick Avenue, Suite 502, Gaithersburg, MD 20877
(T) 301-978-9750 - (F) 301-978-9753 - E-mail: ccas1@verizon.net