Kent continually finds himself growing anxious about germs gathering on his skin. He can only decrease his anxiety by washing hi

Question

3 months ago

11

Kent continually finds himself growing anxious about germs gathering on his skin. He can only decrease his anxiety by washing hi

s hands. Soon, however, the anxiety returns, and he washes his hands again. He repeats this cycle dozens of times each day. Kent most likely is experiencing which psychological disorder?

Social Studies

2 answers:

Alexandra [1.4K] · Answer 1 · 2026-02-21T19:46:03+03:00

Answer:

The condition being referred to is obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

Explanation:

Kent appears to be suffering from OCD, a psychological disorder defined by an intense compulsion to repeatedly perform certain actions, which can become overwhelming. This disorder falls under the category of anxiety disorders. There are various forms of OCD, such as contamination, mental contamination, hoarding, checking behaviors, intrusive thoughts, and rumination.

Contamination OCD involves an irrational and excessive fear of dirt or germs, leading individuals to engage in compulsive cleaning. It seems Kent is primarily affected by this specific type of OCD.

enot [1.5K] · Answer 2 · 2026-02-21T19:49:19+03:00

Answer:

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Explanation:

Considering the situation described, it can be inferred that Kent is likely dealing with Obsessive-compulsive disorder, commonly known as OCD. This mental condition involves persistent and irrational fears that often lead to various repetitive actions, such as Kent’s compulsive hand-washing behavior.