ORIGINAL PAPER Scrupulosity and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: The Cognitive Perspective in Islamic Sources Lutfullah Besiroglu • Sitki Karaca • Ibrahim Keskin Ó Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2012 Abstract A moral/religious subtype of obsessive compulsive disorder has been termed as scrupulosity by mental health professionals. Since ultimate feared consequence in scru- pulous individuals is religious or moral in nature, it also presents interesting and difficult issue for religious authorities. This article focuses on various aspects of scrupulosity that have until now been poorly conceptualized in Islamic world and provides a conceptual cognitive framework and analysis of scrupulosity according to Islamic sources. Keywords Obsessive compulsive disorder Á Scrupulosity Á Religiosity Á Islam Á Cognitive theory Á Thought-action fusion Scrupulosity: A Religious Form of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is a debilitating disorder marked by two distinct phenomena: recurrent, disturbing, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and overt repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) performed to reduce distress caused by obsessions. OCD is diagnosed when the obsessions or compulsions cause marked distress, are rec- ognized at least at some point as being excessive and/or irrational, are time consuming, and significantly interfere with the person’s functioning (American Psychiatric Association 2005). Several authors from different countries and cultural backgrounds investigated the prevalence of different types of OCD symptoms in both clinical and community sample. While the most common types of obsessions are contamination, need for symmetry, L. Besiroglu (&) Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Yuzuncu Yil University, 65200 Van, Turkey e-mail: Lbesiroglu@gmail.com S. Karaca Umit Health Clinics, Eskis ¸ehir, Turkey I. Keskin Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Alparslan University, Mus ¸, Turkey 123 J Relig Health DOI 10.1007/s10943-012-9588-7