Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire (OBQ; Moulding et al., 2011)

This inventory lists different attitudes or beliefs that people sometimes hold. Read each statement carefully and decide how much you agree or disagree with it. For each statement, choose the number matching the answer that best describes how you think. Because people are different, there are no right or wrong answers. To decide whether a given statement is typical of your way of looking at things, simple keep in mind what you are like most of the time. Use the following scale.

 

1

Disagree

Very Much

2

Disagree

Moderately

3

Disagree a little

4

Neither agree nor disagree

5

Agree a little

6

Agree moderately

7

Agree very much

 

1. If I’m not absolutely sure, I’m bound to make a mistake.

 

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7
2.  To be a worthwhile person, I must be perfect at everything I do.

 

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7
3.  Even if harm is very unlikely, I should try to prevent it at any cost.

 

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7
4.  For me, having bad urges is as bad as actually carrying them out.

 

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7
5.  If I don’t act when I foresee danger, then I am to blame for consequences.

 

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7
6.  In all kinds of daily situations, failing to prevent harm is just as bad as deliberately causing it.

 

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7
7.  For me, not preventing harm is as bad as causing harm.

 

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8.  I should be upset if I make a mistake.

 

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7
9.  For me, things are not right if they are not perfect.

 

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7
10. Having nasty thoughts means I’m a terrible person.

 

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7
11. If I do not take extra precautions, I am more likely than others to have or cause a serious disaster.

 

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7
12. I am more likely than other people to accidentally cause harm to myself or to others.

 

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7
13. Having bad thoughts means I am weird or abnormal.

 

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7
14. Even when I am careful, I often think bad things will happen

 

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7
15. Having intrusive thoughts means I’m out of control.

 

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7
16.  Harmful events will happen unless I’m careful.

 

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7
17. I must keep working until it’s done exactly right.

 

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7
18. To me, failing to prevent disaster is as bad as causing it.

 

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7
19. Having a bad thought is morally no different than doing a bad deed.

 

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7
20. No matter what I do, it won’t be good enough.   1 2 3 4 5 6 7

 

Threat: 1, 11, 12, 14, 16

Perfectionism/intolerance for uncertainty: 2, 8, 9, 17, 20

Inflated responsibility: 3, 5, 6, 7, 18

Importance and control of thoughts: 4, 10, 13, 15, 19