Archive puzzle
Doctordle #140
Intrusive fears followed by repeated rituals
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Case notes
Sourced case summary
Open the full case notes after playing. The text is also rendered in the page HTML so search engines can understand the archived puzzle.
Case summary
This archived Doctordle case was published on 2026-08-18. It presents "Intrusive fears followed by repeated rituals" as a Medium Mental Health puzzle. The final answer is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
Answer
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Source
Topic pages verified on 2026-07-11
Information summarized from MedlinePlus.gov. MedlinePlus does not endorse Doctordle.
Six clues
Clue 1
A 27-year-old has unwanted recurring fears about contamination.
Clue 2
Handwashing is repeated until the skin becomes irritated.
Clue 3
The person recognizes the ritual is excessive but feels driven to perform it.
Clue 4
The cycle takes more than an hour each day in this fictional case.
Clue 5
The thoughts are obsessions and the rituals are compulsions.
Clue 6
The answer is commonly abbreviated OCD.
Plain-language explanation
Obsessive-compulsive disorder involves unwanted recurring thoughts or urges and repetitive behaviors performed in response. The cycle can consume time and interfere with daily life.
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