Nine-year-old Judy insists on checking several times to see if the windows are closed and the doors locked before she allows her family to leave home on even brief trips. Her insistence on checking could be a sign of

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Judy's behavior of constantly checking and being unable to let go of the need to check is indicative of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). OCD is characterized by intrusive and persistent thoughts (obsessions) that lead to repetitive behaviors (compulsions) in an effort to alleviate anxiety related to the obsessions. In this case, Judy's obsession could be a fear of something bad happening if the doors and windows are not checked, and her compulsive behavior is checking them multiple times.

Nine-Year-Old Judy Insists on Checking Several Times to See If