Tagged - Diagnosis
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) affects 1-2% of people in the UK. It is a powerful and destructive mental health condition. Despite its severity, OCD is treatable with the right support and evidence-based treatment. Yet, we face a crisis of neglect—OCD is invisible in our healthcare system. The Data Gap: Our... Prime Minister: Take Action for OCD Dear Keir Starmer, We write to you as the UK’s leading charity for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), representing hundreds of thousands whose struggles remain largely unseen within our healthcare system. OCD is a serious mental health condition with debilitating effects, driven by distressing intrusive... Read more
The OCD Action Helpline is an unbiased source of information and support for people with OCD and the people in their lives. We offer a safe and understanding space where people affected by OCD can find out more about the condition, what can help, and how to access the right... Read more
This resource has been developed as part of OCD Action’s collaboration with Student Space, a mental health initiative run by Student Minds that offers safe and confidential support for students during the pandemic. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and related conditions are treatable with the right support. The therapy and medication that are recommended have stood... . Medication The main recommended medication for OCD is a type of tablet called SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor). There are 6 of these: Fluoxetine (trade name ‘Prozac’) Fluvoxamine (trade name ‘Faverin’) Sertraline (trade name ‘Lustral’) Paroxetine (trade name ‘Seroxat’) Citalopram (trade name ‘Cipramil’) Escitalopram (trade name ‘Cipralex’) There is... . Treatment through the NHS If you are interested in therapy or medication through the NHS, your first step is usually to speak to your GP. They can prescribe medication, make a referral for therapy, and put you in touch with other support available in your area. If you are... . The NHS runs on a ‘stepped care’ system. This means that there are different levels of treatment depending on what you need. Your GP should support you to start out at the step that is right for you, and to move up to higher steps if needed. For OCD... . Private treatment Treatment and assessment for OCD are also available privately, although this can get quite expensive because of the level of specialisation needed. There are lots of reasons someone might choose to see a private professional. You will most likely not have to wait as long, you will... . charities providing therapy We are aware of one charity, Asto, who specialise in providing OCD specific therapy. Their therapist has over 25 years’ experience working with OCD. The therapy they provide is group therapy. You can read more about them here. As they are a charity, if you are... . Help from OCD Action We know that living with OCD, navigating the NHS system, and making use of treatment can be tiring and confusing. For a lot of people, it can also feel like quite a lonely journey. OCD Action and our services are here to support you through... Read more
View PDF version here . One of the biggest barriers people face with accessing treatment for their OCD is lack of recognition of their symptoms. Someone might not be completely open about them to professionals because they are embarrassed, or the assessor themselves might not be aware of the different... Do I need a diagnosis? You don’t need to be diagnosed by a psychiatrist in order to receive the appropriate treatments. Treatment will be offered based on what symptoms are describing, so you will be able to access it as long as you speak to a professional who can recognise... What will an assessment look like? As part of the assessment, you will be asked a number of questions. Some of these might not be about OCD specifically, but are still an important part of getting a clear picture of what you are experiencing and what can help. At the... Read more
In April 2014 the English government gave mental health patients the same legal right to choice of provider as had existed for several years in physical health, representing a major step towards ‘parity’ (equality) between physical and mental health care. ‘Patient Choice’ is a type of referral that can be... Download the NHS’ guidance document choice-in-mental-health-care-v5 Read more