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Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire (OBQ)3

Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire (OBQ) Test

Understand core beliefs that can drive obsessive thoughts and compulsive behavior in about 9 minutes. Built on the original scoring, it delivers clear, comparable results to guide treatment and research.

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Questions: 449 minutes

08:30

September 1, 2026

September 1, 2026
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

21,226 views

1,630 completions

1,282 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

78/84

Importance of Controlling Thoughts (IoCT)

Measures the extent to which a person believes intrusive thoughts must be tightly controlled and that having them may be significant or risky.

Lower

Moderate

Higher

12 – 35: Lower | 36 – 59: Moderate | 60 – 84: Higher

A score of 78 falls in the Higher range, suggesting a strong belief that controlling thoughts is necessary and that unwanted thoughts may carry important consequences.

example score

43/112

Perfectionism and Certainty (PaC)

Measures perfectionistic standards, need for certainty, and distress or rigidity when facing mistakes and uncertainty.

Low

Moderate

High

16 – 47: Low | 48 – 79: Moderate | 80 – 112: High

A score of 43 falls in the Low range, suggesting relatively less rigidity around absolute standards and greater tolerance of uncertainty compared with higher scores.

example score

77/112

Responsibility and Threat Estimation (RaTE)

Measures beliefs about personal responsibility to prevent harm and tendencies to overestimate threat and consequences of inaction.

Lower

Moderate

Higher

16 – 47: Lower | 48 – 79: Moderate | 80 – 112: Higher

A score of 77 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a relatively elevated sense of responsibility and threat assessment that may be stronger than average but not at the highest level on this scale.

example score

85/308

Total Score (TS)

This scale measures the overall intensity of obsessive beliefs and rigid attitudes linked to obsessive-compulsive thinking patterns.

Lower range

Moderate range

Higher range

44 – 132: Lower range | 133 – 220: Moderate range | 221 – 308: Higher range

A score of 85 falls in the Lower range, suggesting relatively fewer or less intense obsessive beliefs compared with higher scores on this measure.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

OCD therapy clients

46%OF USERS

People with obsessive thoughts or compulsive behaviors take it to pinpoint the beliefs that keep their symptoms going and guide treatment targets.

Clinicians in assessment

34%OF USERS

Psychologists and therapists use it to quickly profile thought-importance, responsibility, and control beliefs during intake or progress monitoring.

OCD researchers and students

20%OF USERS

Researchers and graduate trainees use it in studies to measure cognitive patterns linked to obsessive-compulsive symptoms and compare results across samples.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

The Importance of Controlling Your Thoughts (TIoCYT)

Average

31.5

Normal range

20.8 — 42.2

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Perfectionism and Certainty (PaC)

Average

45.3

Normal range

31.9 — 58.6

min.

max.

112

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Responsibility and Threat Assessment (RaTA)

Average

77.1

Normal range

59.2 — 94.9

min.

max.

112

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Overall result (Or)

Average

146.4

Normal range

102 — 190.8

min.

max.

308

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Example Questions From the Test

This questionnaire lists various attitudes or beliefs that people sometimes hold. Please read each statement carefully and decide the extent to which you agree or disagree with it. For each statement, select the response that best reflects your way of thinking. Because people differ, there are no right or wrong answers. To determine whether a statement is typical of your perspective, consider how you think most of the time. Please try to avoid choosing a neutral response and instead indicate either agreement or disagreement with each statement.

- Completely disagree
- Mostly disagree
- Somewhat disagree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Somewhat agree
- Mostly agree
- Completely agree
- Completely disagree
- Mostly disagree
- Somewhat disagree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Somewhat agree
- Mostly agree
- Completely agree
- Completely disagree
- Mostly disagree
- Somewhat disagree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Somewhat agree
- Mostly agree
- Completely agree

These are 3 of the 44 real questions — the rest appear in the test. No sign-up needed to start.

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WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire (OBQ) Test - Symptoms and Signs

irrational beliefs

cbt

obsessiveness

ocd

The measure assesses maladaptive belief domains commonly associated with obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire (OBQ) is designed to help identify cognitive themes that may contribute to obsessive thinking and compulsive behavior.

The instrument includes 44 items and typically takes about 9 minutes to complete. Respondents rate their level of agreement with statements reflecting belief patterns such as inflated responsibility and need for control, over-importance of thoughts, and concerns about loss of control or adverse consequences. Scoring is based on the original framework described by Steketee, G., supporting consistent interpretation across clinical and research settings.

In clinical use, the Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire (OBQ) can inform case conceptualization and treatment planning by highlighting belief targets relevant to cognitive and behavioral interventions.

Author: Steketee, G.

Literature: Steketee, G., Frost, R. O., & the Obsessive Compulsive Cognitions Working Group. Psychometric validation of the obsessive belief questionnaire and interpretation of intrusions inventory – Part 2: Factor analyses and testing of a brief version. Behaviour Research and Therapy. 2005.