A physician or psychiatrist can diagnose OCD on the basis of an assessment
that includes:
- asking questions about obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors
- assessing the extent to which obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors
are affecting a person's life and relationships
- checking for symptoms of other forms of mental illness, including depression,
anxiety, and phobias
Devices that study patterns of brain waves, called magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners and positron emission tomography (PET) scanners, help researchers study the brains of people with OCD. Recent research suggests that people with OCD have patterns of brain waves that differ from those without the disorder. However, these scanners are not standard diagnostic tests for OCD. A diagnosis can usually be made based on a physician's assessment.
Are you concerned that you might have OCD? Use the following list to check:
- I have upsetting thoughts or images that enter my mind repeatedly.
- I feel as if I can't stop these thoughts or images, even though I want
to.
- I have difficulty stopping myself from doing things again and again, such
as counting, checking on things, washing my hands, doing things until they
seem perfect, or collecting objects.
- I worry a lot about upsetting things that could happen to me or my loved
ones.
If you answer "yes" to some of the statements above, you may have
OCD. Because the symptoms of OCD rarely disappear without treatment, you should
contact your family doctor if you have obsessive thoughts or compulsive behaviors
that are interfering with your life. A family doctor can refer you to a psychiatrist
for appropriate and effective treatment.