Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

OCD is a serious problem under mental health and its defining features are obsessions and/or compulsions. According to some estimates over 2 per cent of the population will experience OCD at some time, with an average age of onset in the mid twenties. It usually has a chronic course and if left untreated the individual may suffer difficulties for decades. It is therefore important to identify it and provide appropriate therapy.

In OCD, individuals recognize in varying degrees that their obsessions are pointless or excessive. OCD often coexists with other disorders, with over 50 per cent of sufferers reporting another anxiety or mood disorder including depression. It is commonly seen alongside specific phobia, generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder.