Information resources

Simple overview of OCD

Overview of CBT - one of the recommended treatments for OCD

A short film explaining OCD and the treatment available.

A new NHS complaints leaflet

A resource put together by the National and Specialist OCD, BDD and Related Disorders Clinic, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.

A guide for clinicians working with young people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder during the COVID-19 Pandemic, created by the National and Specialist OCD, BDD & Related Disorders Team, South London and Maudsley NHS Trust.

Getting a diagnosis of OCD.

What good CBT should look like

Looking at medication for OCD

Simple look at treatment options

To take with you on your first visit to your GP

An information leaflet on Perinatal OCD, taken from the Royal College of Psychiatrists website

The Centre for Clinical Interventions (CCI) of Australia's resources for overcoming Body Dysmorphia

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Tips on how to tell a loved one about your OCD, written by Youth Advisory Panel volunteer, Nicole.

The term 'Pure O' is often used to describe a certain manifestation of OCD, but what does it actually mean? Find out more in this factsheet.

If you live in the UK, you can be assessed and, once you’ve been diagnosed, treated for your OCD through the NHS. Some people choose instead to have treatment privately. This factsheet explains how to find a private therapist and what to look out for when choosing who you work with.

OCD is a treatable illness, and with the right treatment a majority of people who engage with therapy get a good quality of life back. This factsheet can take you through some steps to help you engage with the right treatment and achieve this for yourself.

There are a number of therapies and mental health treatments out there that can help with a variety of things, and that are sometimes suggested or sought out for treatment of OCD.Apart from medication, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the only therap

Information and worksheets to help you to navigate the treatment system and to communicate more effectively.

A simple guide to help you identify which routes you can take to access treatment for your OCD or BDD

Information and top tips to help you to develop a plan of action so you can self advocate.

The first step to self advocating is making a plan, this worksheet will help you set out what it is that you want to achieve.

Communicating effectively is essential when it comes to self advocating. This guide provides information and useful tips to help you communicate clearly to ensure you are being heard.

A useful resource which will help you prepare for any upcoming meetings and/or appointments.

It can be difficult to describe the symptoms of your OCD/BDD, but the information you provide the healthcare professional with is vital in ensuring you receive the right diagnosis/treatment.

A brief overview of the recommended treatments for OCD/BDD.

A useful worksheet to help you plan for meetings and appointments.

A useful worksheet to help you summarise important appointments.

A worksheet which will help you keep track of the medication you are prescribed.

A worksheet aimed to help you keep track of your CBT sessions.

Information and tips on how to effectively communicate through letter writing.

Information and tips on how to effectively communicate during telephone calls.

A useful way to keep track of telephone conversations.

CMHTs are secondary care services provided by the NHS. They are made up of a multi-disciplinary team of mental health professionals working with adults, often between 18 and 65.

Information and tips on how to effectively make a formal complaint, including a useful worksheet.

The Equality Act 2010 can provide you with protection from discrimination and give you the right to request reasonable adjustments when accessing services or at work/in housing/in education.

Covering your rights if you are detained under the Mental Health Act because of your OCD. Please note that this is a newly revised resource.

Information about our advocacy service

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a hidden condition that affects between 1-2% of the population and is frequently misunderstood. This leaflet will help you as an employer to understand OCD and how people with the condition can contribute to your workforce and deliver their best to you.

Having a clear understanding of your rights and the help that is available to you means that you can be more in control of your treatment.

This guide will give you the information that you need to know about securing a referral outside your area to a national & specialist OCD service. It has some tips and ideas on how you can best present your case to your Psychiatrist who will need to make the referral and who might need to make a request to your local funder to pay for your treatment. This guide can be used alongside the referral request template letter produced by OCD Action’s Advocacy Service and available on the OCD Action website or via the OCD Action office. It can also be used for related conditions such as Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) or health anxiety.

Whether you are a tenant or a home owner, there could be times when your OCD is making your life very difficult.

Information about Community Mental Health Teams, referrals to them, and the assessment process.

An NHS Improvement document on Choice when it comes to treatment for mental ill health

Coping with Depression

Helping a loved one through treatment

Looking at how you can help yourself

Getting the most out of your CBt - Paul Salkovskis

Getting the most out of your CBT

Looking at coping day to day

Satwant Singh looks at the role that support groups can play in supporting a person with OCD

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A look at depression and OCD

Looking at reassurance in OCD

An inspirational speech by Jo, given at National Conference, 2014

A presentation given by David Veale at our 2015 National Conference, on whether Mindfulness meditation is relevant to OCD and BDD.

A presentation given by David Veale at our 2015 National Conference, on how to recognize symptoms of depression and generalised anxiety, and useful tips to help manage your mood.

A presentation given by Karina Lovell at our 2015 National Conference, on how to get the most out of your Cognitive Behvioural Therapy.

A presentation given by Lynne Drummond at our 2015 National Conference, looking at new updates with OCD.

A presentation on 'How we see OCD', given by journalist and author, David Adam, at our 2015 National Conference.

A truly inspirational speech given by Youth Advisory Panel (YAP) member, Ellen, about her experiences of living with OCD

A talk given by Professor David Veale at our 2018 National Conference.

A presentation given by Dr Lynne Drummond at our 2018 National Conference.

An inspirational speech about overcoming intrusive thoughts, given by Rose Bretécher at our 2018 National Conference.

An inspirational speech given by David and Laurenne Goldstone at our 2018 National Conference.

A truly inspirational speech given by Chair of the OCD Youth Panel, Richard Taylor, at our 2018 National Conference.

A Q&A session with crew and contributors from the film 'UNSTUCK: An OCD Kids Movie', which took place at our 2018 National Conference.

A workshop delivered by the OCD Action Advocacy team on how to get what you want using self-advocacy skills.

A question and answer session about effective treatment for OCD, with Professor David Veale, Dr Lynne Drummond, Dr Rob Willson, Dr Amita Jassi and Ashley Curry.

An inspirational speech given by Sophie and David Goldstone, at our 2019 National Conference.

Author Rose Cartwright and TV presenter Sean Fletcher speak about how OCD is represented in media.

A presentation delivered by professor David Leave at our 2019 National Conference, in which he asked audience members to speak to and challenge their OCD on stage.

Professor Paul Salkovskis provided an update on current treatments for OCD and explored future psychological help during his talk at our 2019 National Conference.

A presentation given by leading OCD expert Professor Paul Salkovskis at our 2019 National Conference.

Professor David Veale and author Rose Cartwright discuss intrusive sexual and violent thoughts and answer questions from the audience, at our 2019 National Conference.

A Q&A panel with Dr Amita Jassi, Dr Bruce Clarke, Professor David Veale, Dr Ilenia Pampaloni and Professor Paul Salkovskis - chaired by Maria Bavetta (Maternal OCD).

A panel discussion with OCD Action's Advocacy team at our 2019 National Conference.

The closing inspirational speech given by Dan Furlong at our 2019 National Conference

Answering your questions on recovering from Maternal OCD - Dr Fiona Challacombe, Catherine Benfield, Kim French and Diana Wilson (Maternal OCD)

A video message about OCD from Johnny Mercer MP who is also the Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Mental Health

OCD Action's manifesto for improving access to quality treatment for people with OCD

Template letter to MPs

A downloadable poster for OCD Week of Action

Facebook and Twitter banners for OCD Week of Action

Inspirational Quotes submitted by Forum users

Forum members share their tips on dealing with OCD day to day

 [View the story "Week of Action - Twitter chat on changing stigma" on Storify]

  [View the story "OCD Week of Action - twitter chat on support groups" on Storify]

[View the story "OCD Week of Action - Twitter chat on Advocacy" on Storify]

  [View the story "OCD Week of Action - Twitter chat on OCD, BDD and Treatment" on Storify]

[View the story "OCD Week of Action - Twitter chat on Child and Adolescent Mental Health" on Storify]

Ashley Curry and Kirsty Inman's appearance on HCR104fm, where they speak about OCD and their experiences with it.

A booklet put together by service users from The Wirral and Liverpool areas, which combines artwork, poetry and personal stories from people battling mental health issues, and aims to inspire, provide hope and useful tips to help on the journey to recovery.

Information and resources for HR professionals on how spot signs of OCD and support employers at work.

It's normal to have worries about how we look. But what happens when these concerns get so out of hand they stop you from going out? Body Dysmorphic Disorder is an obsessive preoccupation with perceived defects in ones appearance. The condition manifests through distressing compulsions such as o

An article written by Daisy Yuhas for Spectrum News: www.spectrumnews.org

Resources from the Miscarriage Association detailing support available during and after pregnancy loss.

Full NICE Guidelines

Outlines how OCD should be treated

Overview of the approved treatment for OCD

Article about the assessment of risk in OCD

Recommended reading for CBT

Other recommended reading relating to OCD

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Self-assessment competency tool for Cognitive Behavioural Therapists, taken from IAPT website.

What are the Psychological Factors that Influence Hoarding Disorder? Summary of Research carried out. 

More detail about our Helpline and Email service. Revised 01/14 Review date: 01/15

Our advocacy service for adults with a diagnosis of OCD has now been running for 5 years and remains the only OCD-specific service in the UK. Our evaluation looks back over the difference we have made to the lives of those we have worked with, what we have learned along the way and how we see the future of the service.

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Maternal OCD is a charity that focuses on support for mothers with OCD

"Everything works for somebody, but nothing works for everybody."-quoted from this article 'Ten things you need to know to over come OCD' An article by Fred Penzel who has been involved in over 850 different OCD cases. Here is his take on what 'Ten thing you need to know to over come OCD'. Talking about the different methods, and treatments available, as well as how to get the best uses out of them.

Information about the International OCD Foundation, a non-profit organsation providing support, education and resources to those affected by OCD and related disorders, as well as professionals.