The big picture

MR K is a young office assistant who had been having recurrent thoughts that his hands were dirty. These thoughts persistently occurred and disturbed him profoundly. He was fearful that he might contaminate other people and that his children would catch a serious disease if he touched them or their cups and plates. 

Washing his hands repeatedly helped to reduce these thoughts. But then he found that he was spending up to 40 minutes washing his hands in the bathroom each time he felt dirty. He was afraid that he was going crazy. He had already been suffering for four years when he told his doctor about these distressing symptoms.