A 32-year-old man presents describing an intense fear of germs. He continually experiences thoughts about contracting an illness by coming into contact with things in
the environment, such as doorknobs or seats in public places. His intense fear of germs
has resulted in repetitive hand washing. He describes brief relief after hand washing but,
because his thoughts about contamination keep returning, he states that he "cannot help
but wash again for hours a day" Both of his hands are red, raw, and cracked and he had to
leave his job because of his fear of sitting down in public places,