How is OCD Diagnosed
By Katherine Pica LCSW
Let’s face it: You’re different compared to most people. You’ve been thinking this for a while, and you’re finally able to admit it to yourself. When comparing yourself to friends, family, and loved ones, you know something is off. Something is setting you apart from everyone else. Everyone has different personalities and quirks, but what you’re experiencing feels different.
Fears consume you. You’re worried about losing control, contaminating yourself or others, and losing personal items. You obsess over certain things, and get stuck in thought spirals. You repeatedly check doors, switches, and locks. Your hands are always clean because you’re constantly washing them. You’ve done your research. The signs and symptoms all point to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). But how can you confirm if that’s what you have? Here’s how OCD is diagnosed.
The OCD Assessment Process
One of the best ways to determine if you actually have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is to seek guidance from a professional. It can be easy to search on Google or take quizzes online to self-diagnose yourself, but that can often lead you down a deep rabbit hole. To get an accurate diagnosis, leave it to a professional.
There isn’t a set test to determine if someone has Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. OCD is a mental health disorder. This means that there isn’t an X-ray or a blood test that can tell you if you have it or not. To diagnose Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, a therapist will ask you questions to determine if you meet the criteria laid out in the DSM-5.
What an OCD Therapist Looks For
The DSM-5 is a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders used by the American Psychiatric Association. The questions that your therapist may ask you may come from the diagnostic criteria set forth by the DSM-5.
Typically, a therapist will look for a few different things to determine if someone has Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Here are the three main factors a therapist will look for when diagnosing OCD:
If the person has obsessions.
If the person does compulsions to counteract the obsessions.
If the obsession and compulsions take a significant amount of time or get in the way of the person’s daily life and routine. (i.e.: work, school, spending time with loved ones)
You don’t have to prepare in advance for OCD testing. Your therapist will just want to know the signs, symptoms, compulsions, and obsessions you may be experiencing. They may also be interested in knowing how often these situations occur. A therapist will use your answers to rule out any other condition, as well as try to determine if Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is the proper diagnosis.
Next Steps for OCD treatment
So you have OCD, now what? There are treatment options available to you after you are diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Therapy is one of the best treatment options for OCD. No matter the intensity of the signs, symptoms, obsessions, and compulsions you’re facing, treatment is readily available to you. Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is the most evidenced based form of therapy for OCD.
OCD therapy
ERP- is a supported approach to help you face your fears. It offers so much hope to the OCD sufferer. Don’t delay treatment just because you think you can handle it on your own or if you think you’re symptoms aren’t as severe. The good news is: You’re not alone, and you don’t have to handle this all on your own. Therapy can provide you the relief you need to get through your day-to-day, worry-free again.
OCD therapist - San Diego
Whether you’re interested in learning more about getting properly diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder or if you’re already diagnosed and interested in treatment options for OCD, I’m here to help you become the best version of yourself.
Reach out today to set up a free consultation. No matter where you’re at on your healing journey, We can help you get on the right path again.
