Episode 248: Understanding Real Event OCD: When the Past Fuels Obsession

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Article Authors: David Puder, Kevin Foss

David Puder and Kevin Foss have no conflicts of interest to report.

Introduction

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) manifests in various forms, one of which is Real Event OCD, a subtype where individuals become trapped in cycles of rumination over actual past events, often fueled by intense guilt, shame, and doubt. Unlike hypothetical fears in other OCD variants, Real Event OCD fixates on memories that "really happened," turning them into sources of ongoing distress. Its prevalence is about 35% of people with OCD). Scholarly reviews further emphasize its links to trauma (with 30-50% of OCD patients reporting trauma histories) and regret over "failed potentialities"…Article Pending