A client exhibits symptoms including excessive checking of appliances before leaving the house. Which anxiety disorder is associated with these symptoms?

The symptoms described, particularly the excessive checking of appliances before leaving the house, are indicative of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This condition is characterized by persistent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) that an individual feels driven to perform in response to those obsessions. In this case, the checking behavior serves as a compulsion aimed at reducing the anxiety associated with fears of something bad happening, such as leaving an appliance on.

Individuals with OCD often recognize that their fears may be irrational but feel compelled to perform these rituals to alleviate distress. Thus, the excessive checking behavior is a typical manifestation of OCD, distinguishing it from other anxiety disorders or personality disorders listed in the options. Each of these other conditions has different features and symptomatology that do not align with the compulsive checking behavior seen in OCD.