Ocd questionnaire nhs
Overview - Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common mental health condition where a person has obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours.
OCD can affect men, women and children. Some people start having symptoms early, often around puberty, but it usually starts during early adulthood.
OCD can be distressing and significantly interfere with your life, but treatment can help you keep it under control.
Symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
If you have OCD, you'll usually experience frequent obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours.
- An obsession is an unwanted and unpleasant thought, image or urge that repeatedly enters your mind, causing feelings of anxiety, disgust or unease.
- A compulsion is a repetitive behaviour or mental act that you feel you need to do to temporarily relieve the unpleasant feelings brought on by the obsessive thought.
For example, someone with an obsessive fear of being burgled may feel they need to check all the windows and doors are locked several times before they can leave their house.
Women can sometimes have OCD during pregnancy or after their baby is born. Obsessions may include worrying about harming the baby or not sterilising feeding bottles properly. Compulsions could be things such as repeatedly checking the baby is breathing.
Getting help for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
People with OCD are often reluctant to seek help because they feel ashamed or embarrassed.
OCD is a health condition like any other, so there's nothing to feel ashamed or embarrassed about. Having OCD does not mean you're "mad" and it's not your fault you have it.
There are 2 main ways to get help:
- refer yourself directly to a psychological therapies service – find a psychological therapies service in your area
- see a GP – they'll ask about your symptoms and can refer you to a local psychological therapies service if necessary
If you think a friend or family member may have OCD, try talking to them about your concerns and suggest they get help.
It's unlikely OCD will get better without proper treatment and support.
Treatments for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
There are some effective treatments for OCD that can help reduce the impact it has on your life.
The main treatments are:
- psychological therapy – usually cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which helps you face your fears and obsessive thoughts without "putting them right" through compulsions
- medicine – usually a type of antidepressant medicine called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which can help by altering the balance of chemicals in your brain
CBT will usually have an effect quite quickly. It can take several months before you notice the effects of treatment with SSRIs, but most people will eventually benefit.
If these treatments do not help, you may be offered an alternative SSRI or be given a combination of an SSRI and CBT.
Some people may be referred to a specialist mental health service for further treatment.
Causes of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
It's not clear what causes OCD. A number of different factors may play a part, including:
- family history – you're more likely to develop OCD if a family member has it, possibly because of your genes
- differences in the brain – some people with OCD have areas of unusually high activity in their brain or low levels of a chemical called serotonin
- life events – OCD may be more common in people who have been bullied, abused or neglected, and it sometimes starts after an important life event, such as childbirth or a bereavement
- personality – neat, meticulous, methodical people with high personal standards may be more likely to develop OCD, also people who are generally quite anxious or have a very strong sense of responsibility for themselves and others
Support groups
Living with OCD can be difficult.
In addition to getting medical help, you might find it helps to contact a support group or other people with OCD for information and advice.
The following websites may be useful sources of support:
- OCD Action
- OCD-UK
- TOP UK
- HealthUnlocked OCD forum
OCD Action, OCD-UK and TOP UK can also let you know about any local support groups in your area.
Information:
Social care and support guide
The social care and support guide has advice about where you can get support if you:
- need help with day-to-day living because of illness or disability
- care for someone regularly because they're ill, elderly or disabled, including family members
Page last reviewed: 18 November 2019
Next review due: 18 November 2022
Online Test for OCD | Clinical Partners
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Question 1
I have saved up so many things that they get in the way.
- Not at all
- A little bit
- Moderately
- A lot
- Extremely
Question 2
I check things more often than necessary.
- Not at all
- A little bit
- Moderately
- A lot
- Extremely
Question 3
I get upset if objects are not arranged properly.
- Not at all
- A little bit
- Moderately
- A lot
- Extremely
Question 4
I feel compelled to count while I am doing things.
- Not at all
- A little bit
- Moderately
- A lot
- Extremely
Question 5
I find it difficult to touch an object when I know it has been touched by strangers or certain people.
- Not at all
- A little bit
- Moderately
- A lot
- Extremely
Question 6
I find it difficult to control my own thoughts.
- Not at all
- A little bit
- Moderately
- A lot
- Extremely
Question 7
I collect things I don’t need.
- Not at all
- A little bit
- Moderately
- A lot
- Extremely
Question 8
I repeatedly check doors, windows, drawers, etc.
- Not at all
- A little bit
- Moderately
- A lot
- Extremely
Question 9
I get upset if others change the way I have arranged things.
- Not at all
- A little bit
- Moderately
- A lot
- Extremely
Question 10
I feel I have to repeat certain numbers.
- Not at all
- A little bit
- Moderately
- A lot
- Extremely
Question 11
I sometimes have to wash or clean myself simply because I feel contaminated.
- Not at all
- A little bit
- Moderately
- A lot
- Extremely
Question 12
I am upset by unpleasant thoughts that come into my mind against my will.
- Not at all
- A little bit
- Moderately
- A lot
- Extremely
Question 13
I avoid throwing things away because I am afraid I might need them later
- Not at all
- A little bit
- Moderately
- A lot
- Extremely
Question 14
I repeatedly check gas and water taps and light switches after turning them off.
- Not at all
- A little bit
- Moderately
- A lot
- Extremely
Question 15
I need things to be arranged in a particular way.
- Not at all
- A little bit
- Moderately
- A lot
- Extremely
Question 16
I feel that there are good and bad numbers
- Not at all
- A little bit
- Moderately
- A lot
- Extremely
Question 17
I wash my hands more often and longer than necessary.
- Not at all
- A little bit
- Moderately
- A lot
- Extremely
Question 18
I frequently get nasty thoughts and have difficulty in getting rid of them.
- Not at all
- A little bit
- Moderately
- A lot
- Extremely
Question 1 of 18
When answering the above questions please consider how they have applied to you in the last month or so.
This test may help identify if you are suffering with OCD and to what degree. It is not meant to replace a full assessment by a qualified clinician and we would always recommend going to a qualified, experienced clinician if you have any concerns about your results or your health.
This test was adapted from: Foa, E.B., Huppert, J.D., Leiberg, S., Hajcak, G., Langner, R., et al. (2002). The Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory: Development and validation of a short version. Psychological Assessment, 14, 485-496
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Yale-Brown OCD Test
Y-BOCS (Yele-Braun obsessive-compulsive scale)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental disorder in which a person experiences repetitive, unwanted obsessions thoughts, ideas, images, or urges (obsessions) and an urgent need to repeat certain actions (compulsions/rituals) to alleviate or get rid of obsessions. In severe OCD, obsessions and rituals reach the point where they cause distress and greatly interfere with life. Phrase " obsessive-compulsive " is sometimes used in an informal non-OCD manner to describe someone as being overly meticulous, perfectionistic, engrossed, or otherwise obsessed.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder affects about 2.3% of people. The median age of onset of OCD is 19.5 years and rarely appears after age 35.
25% of OCD cases begin by age 14.
Yale-Brown scale clinical test method developed by Wayne Goodman and colleagues at Yale and Brown Universities at 1989 year. Designed to quantify the components of OCD and their dynamics:
- obsessive thoughts ( obsessions )
- compulsions ( compulsions)
| EXAMPLES OF OSESSIONS | EXAMPLES OF COMPULSIONS |
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Questionnaire
1.
The total duration of your obsessive thoughts (obsessions) during the day is:
not observed at all
in aggregate less than an hour
in aggregate 1-3 hours during the day
in aggregate 3-8 hours during the day
in aggregate more than 8 hours during the day
2. Degree of disturbance of daily life due to the presence of obsessive thoughts:
not disturbed at all
slightly disturbed
negative influence is felt, but the way of life is the same
daily way of life is severely disturbed
way of life is completely disturbed
3. The level of psychological discomfort due to obsessive thoughts:
I don’t feel at all
I feel a little discomfort
I feel a lot of discomfort, but in general, I feel good
I feel a lot of discomfort and this affects my well-being
I feel almost all day very strong discomfort
4. Resistance to obsessions:
able to resist them almost always
I can resist most obsessions
sometimes I can resist them well
most of the time I can't resist them
unable to resist obsessions
5.
Degree of control over obsessions:
obsessions are completely under my control
in most cases I control them
sometimes I manage to control obsessions
I can control them slightly
my obsessions are out of control
6. Your duration of obsessive actions, rituals (compulsions) during the day:
not observed at all (less than an hour in total)
in total an hour or less than an hour
in total 1-3 hours during the day
in total 3-8 hours during the day
in aggregate more than 8 hours during the day
7. Degree of violation of daily life:
do not violate at all
have a slight influence
a negative influence is felt, but the way of life is the same
they strongly disrupt the daily way of life
the way of life is completely disturbed
8. Level of psychological discomfort:
I don’t feel at all
I feel a little discomfort
I feel a lot of discomfort, but in general I feel good
I feel a lot of discomfort and this affects my well-being
I feel very strong discomfort almost all day
9.
Resist compulsions:
able to resist most compulsions
can resist most compulsions
sometimes I can resist them well
most often I can’t resist them
unable to resist compulsions
10. Degree of control over compulsions:
compulsions are completely under my control
in most cases I control them
I can sometimes control my compulsions
I can barely control them
my compulsions are uncontrollable
Your health this winter. Part Two: Peace of Mind During the Pandemic
During the coronavirus pandemic, mental well-being issues have become very acute. You may feel restless, anxious and afraid, bored or lonely - in the current conditions this is completely predictable, although everyone reacts to the pandemic in their own way. Fortunately, for many of us, these negative experiences are temporary. Let's see exactly what situation we find ourselves in and what disturbs our mental balance during the pandemic.
On the Better Health platform, you'll find NHS-approved expert opinions and practical advice to get you up and running quickly. The main tool of the platform is the My Mind Plan questionnaire, with which you can draw up an action plan to improve your physical and psychological condition . The platform has detailed recommendations for both adults and children.
Flight, fight, freeze!
The pandemic situation is a great stress for all of us. Our body reacts to stress in three ways: flight, fight, freeze (flight, fight, freeze). Let's talk about each of these reactions.
There is nowhere to run, except to the world of fantasy or workaholism, so psychologists now rarely observe the flight reaction.
Winter, pandemic and quarantine tend to freeze, and in the language of biology to freeze means to pretend to be dead. What happens if you pretend to be dead for several months in a row? Our body can, unfortunately, believe in death - prolonged freezing leads to depression.
In order to sustain ourselves during the freezing period, we, like all mammals, need to feel safe around others. However, we are now deprived of this. Some of us resign ourselves and crawl from one day to the next.
Some protest and turn on a third way to deal with the threat - fighting. There are examples of a positive direction of struggle - this is helping other people, volunteering, actively developing online space and new technologies. However, often the struggle turns into aggression directed at the government, teachers or loved ones. Battles happen for any reason: wear or not wear masks, follow the rules or go to protest rallies, believe in a vaccine or fear it. We are faced with the mechanism of displacement of aggression - we are looking for an all-powerful enemy or we start fighting with each other, not realizing that anger and frustration are caused by the current situation, that we are angry at an invisible virus. This is hard to admit, so we shift the responsibility for our emotions to other people.
The reasons listed above convincingly show that the degree of mental stress with which we are now dealing is really high, which means that we need to learn how to regulate it and prevent "overheating". How can we take care of the peace of mind (our own and those of our loved ones), what can we do ourselves, when to ask for help and how to seek it? We are multilevel creatures, so we need to help ourselves at all levels.
What can I do to improve my psychological state?
Move more
The freezing response and the fall/winter period encourages hibernation, but the body needs movement, so use every opportunity to move. Our physical condition has a huge impact on our emotions. Movement is not only good for health, but also improves our emotional well-being. Even a short but quick ten-minute walk increases concentration, gives energy and improves mood. Try to add regular exercise to your daily schedule.
If you are working from home, a little break from work is better than no break. Ten minutes between Zoom meetings and meetings is enough time to do a mini workout or walk three laps around the house. If you feel that your mood is falling, turn on energetic music and dance as best you can for five minutes. Remember the Prime Minister dance performed by Hugh Grant in the movie "Love Actually" and join in.
If you lack motivation to exercise, think about how you will feel when you do it. Anticipating the reward of feeling good is a great motivator. If there is no anticipation, then you are doing something wrong, change the set of exercises.
Walk while looking at the sky, trees, houses, people around you, but don't look at your phone or listen to podcasts.
Add variety
The brain also needs novelty. Life in lockdown is quite monotonous, so a bright bouquet of flowers in your room, which you will look at from time to time at meetings, will be the necessary stimulation.
Use perfumes, explore new spices, touch and feel different objects and surfaces.
Emotions and relationships
Many of us are spending much more time at home during the pandemic. This gives families the opportunity to be together more, but it can also lead to mutual discontent and quarrels if we seek to compensate for our frustrations at the expense of each other.
If you are one family and you have children, it is important to make time for yourself and your partner (as difficult as it may be).
Quarrels and conflicts are a normal part of mature relationships, but if they are persistent, too violent and not resolved, it harms not only adults but also children and directly affects social, emotional and cognitive perspectives. Therefore, it is important to take action in time and prevent disputes from developing into something more serious.
You can create a family timetable for privacy hours ("home alone") - older children will especially appreciate it.
Try to be more sensitive to the experiences of each family member and discuss possible ways out of difficult situations.
Sadness, sadness and apathy can not only be "danced", but also put into words. The spoken experience takes shape, it makes us feel better. If there is no one to speak out, you can always use written practices. They, too, have words that give shape to our chaotic inner world.
Do not judge others. Everyone adapts to the situation and lives it the best they can, depending on the type of nervous system, past life experiences and available resources. Be surprised at the variety of forms and reactions. It is better to be surprised and inquisitive than to be judgmental and critical.
Check your expectations. Now is not the time to be super efficient and super productive, as a lot of effort is spent on constant adaptation.
Sometimes it is useful to write down your thoughts, to put emotions into words. It helps to shape them, reflect on what is important, and identify ways to deal with difficult experiences.
Ten Steps to Emotional Well-Being
1. Stay Connected
Healthy relationships with people we can trust are very important. Whenever possible, meet friends or family members in person, but before doing so, always make sure you follow the quarantine rules in your area regarding where and how many people can gather, and follow the latest government recommendations regarding social distancing .
If a face-to-face meeting is not possible, communicate by phone, video calls or social media.
You are in your garden, a friend from snow-covered Moscow or from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea - that's a different picture, different feelings and a lively voice, and not an endless text.
2. Talk about what worries you
It is perfectly normal to feel anxious, fearful and helpless in the current situation. Remember: there is nothing wrong with sharing your experiences with loved ones.
It helps not only you, but also them. If you do not have the opportunity to speak out or this does not help, there are many hotlines where they will listen to you.
Talking Therapies (talking therapy) will come to the rescue if anxiety and (or) depression has begun to affect your life and you cannot cope with it. You can get a referral to a psychologist from the GP or arrange it yourself through the service nhs.uk/talk.
Talk therapy is effective in treating common mental problems such as anxiety (including panic disorder, PTSD, and OCD) and depression. Therapy is provided by the NHS and may include face-to-face meetings, phone calls or online.
If English is not your first language, talking therapy can be done with therapists who speak your language or with the support of confidential interpreters.
3. Help others
By helping others, you help yourself, so try to be a little more understanding of the experiences and actions of other people during this period.
Think: how could you make life easier for someone around you?
As the pandemic continues, it doesn't hurt to follow the latest news about government quarantine measures that will affect you personally. Imagine how they will affect your lifestyle over the next week, think about what you need to do to solve related problems. Sometimes it can be helpful to talk to an employer. Find out about government programs to support businesses and the self-employed, understand what benefits are for sick leave and applying for benefits.
5. Maintain your physical health
Eat healthy, balanced meals, drink enough water, and exercise regularly. Try not to smoke or drink large amounts of alcohol. Walking, jogging or riding a bike can really improve your mood - just remember to follow the rules of social distancing.
6. Track the facts
Find a trusted source of information about the coronavirus, such as GOV.
UK or the NHS, and check information from the social media feed, the media, or other people. Try not to share news without double-checking it with reliable sources. It may sometimes be worthwhile to limit the time you devote to pandemic news, or even turn off news notifications on your phone.
7. Do what you love
Worry, worry, or discouragement can cause us to stop doing things we used to enjoy. A favorite hobby, relaxation, or socializing can help get rid of disturbing thoughts and experiences. If you love doing something in the company of other people, there may be ways to continue doing it while maintaining social distance. If you don't have the opportunity to do what you love because you're staying at home, think about how you can adapt your favorite activity to home conditions, or try something new. There are many free courses and master classes on the Internet, as well as online quizzes and concerts.
8. Focus on the present
Focus on today's problems instead of worrying about the future.
For example, simple breathing techniques will help relieve an anxiety attack and get rid of obsessive thoughts.
You can also help try progressive muscle relaxation. Sometimes we get so stressed out for so long that we forget how to feel relaxed. The exercise teaches you to recognize moments of tension and relax your muscles accordingly.
9. Get healthy sleep
Quality sleep plays a huge role in how we feel - physically and mentally - so it's important to get enough sleep. University of Oxford Professor of Sleep Medicine Colin Ekpie gives simple tips on how to get better sleep in this video:
advice and support for adults and children.
