People with OCD have persistent thoughts, ideas, and images that enter
their conscious mind and are seen as senseless and intrusive. Some
common obsessive thoughts are that a small oversight by the person
will result in inconceivable catastrophe for themselves, other people
or the world at large. Other common obsessions are contamination,
putting things in order, violent impulses, and sexual imagery. Persons
with this disorder recognize that these unwanted thoughts (such as
fears of hurting their children) are abnormal and would not act on
them, but the thoughts are very disturbing and difficult to discuss
with others. These thoughts are more than simply excessive worries
about real-life problems.
Learn more about OCD 
TreatmentThere are many effective treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), ranging from therapy to self-help and medication. If you think you have OCD, the first person you should see is your family doctor. A physician can determine whether the symptoms that alarm you are due to OCD, another type of anxiety disorder, or another medical condition.
Learn more about OCD treatment
If you start on medication, remember that it is important not to stop
taking it abruptly. Certain drugs must be tapered off under the
supervision of a doctor or bad reactions can occur. Make sure you talk
to the doctor who prescribed your medication before you stop taking
it. If you are having trouble with side effects, it’s possible
that they can be eliminated by adjusting how much medication you take
and when you take it.
Learn more about medications for OCD
Track your OCD symptoms to identify patterns and help with your treatment plan. Our progress tracker can be printed or even shared with your healthcare professional electronically.
Progress tracking for OCD
News & ResearchADHD rates are found to be elevated in individuals with childhood-onset OCD compared to the general population rate of ADHD, and there is a strong association between ADHD and clinically significant hoarding behavior. This is consistent with recent studies suggesting that individuals with hoarding may exhibit substantial executive functioning abnormalities, including attention problems.
Since only one-fifth of hoarders have been found to have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), there is reason to think that hoarding may be due to something other than that illness.
A new study found that that something may be inattention, apart of ADHD. The results suggest that inattention—a problem of neurocognitive function—might be a central feature of hoarding disorder and may lead to difficulty making decisions about what to discard, since other researchers have found that hoarders have trouble making decisions.
DiagnosisThere are no blood tests or imaging studies that will diagnose OCD. A doctor or mental health professional will ask you about your thoughts, behavior and past history as well as family history.
Learn more about OCD diagnosis
This simple questionnaire is designed to help you determine if you have symptoms of OCD and could benefit from professional help.
Doctor Discussion GuideTalking to your doctor or mental health professional about an obsessive compulsive disorder can be difficult. Knowing what questions to ask can help. Our Doctor Discussion Guide includes a list of questions you may want to ask. You can even add questions of your own and then print out the list.
Doctor Discussion Guide
