Information resources
Intended for: Concerned about someone else, Professional, Concerned about a related disorderHighlighted Resources 3 resources
Simple overview of OCD
A short film explaining OCD and the treatment available.
A new NHS complaints leaflet
Our Factsheets 17 resources
Getting a diagnosis of OCD.
What good CBT should look like
Information on supporting a person with OCD
Understanding BDD and treatment options
Looking at Habit disorders, skin picking and hair pulling
Information about hair pulling know as Trichotillomania (TTM)
Looking as the Habit Disorder Compulsive Skin Picking (CSP)
Helping a loved one to take the first steps to treatment.
A leaflet provided by South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, clearly explaining their recommended Hoarding Disorder treatment programme
It can be difficult to talk to a person about getting help for their OCD. This article has some helpful suggestions about how you can broach the subject.
An information leaflet on Perinatal OCD, taken from the Royal College of Psychiatrists website
The British Psychological Society's guide to Hoarding Disorder
The Centre for Clinical Interventions (CCI) of Australia's resources for overcoming Body Dysmorphia
The term 'Pure O' is often used to describe a certain manifestation of OCD, but what does it actually mean? Find out more in this factsheet.
OCD is a treatable illness, and with the right treatment a majority of people who engage with therapy get a good quality of life back. This factsheet can take you through some steps to help you engage with the right treatment and achieve this for yourself.
Self Advocacy information and worksheets 15 resources
Information and worksheets to help you to navigate the treatment system and to communicate more effectively.
A simple guide to help you identify which routes you can take to access treatment for your OCD or BDD
Information and top tips to help you to develop a plan of action so you can self advocate.
The first step to self advocating is making a plan, this worksheet will help you set out what it is that you want to achieve.
Communicating effectively is essential when it comes to self advocating. This guide provides information and useful tips to help you communicate clearly to ensure you are being heard.
A useful resource which will help you prepare for any upcoming meetings and/or appointments.
It can be difficult to describe the symptoms of your OCD/BDD, but the information you provide the healthcare professional with is vital in ensuring you receive the right diagnosis/treatment.
A brief overview of the recommended treatments for OCD/BDD.
A useful worksheet to help you plan for meetings and appointments.
A useful worksheet to help you summarise important appointments.
Information and tips on how to effectively communicate through letter writing.
Information and tips on how to effectively communicate during telephone calls.
A useful way to keep track of telephone conversations.
CMHTs are secondary care services provided by the NHS. They are made up of a multi-disciplinary team of mental health professionals working with adults, often between 18 and 65.
The Equality Act 2010 can provide you with protection from discrimination and give you the right to request reasonable adjustments when accessing services or at work/in housing/in education.
Advocacy and Your Rights 5 resources
Covering your rights if you are detained under the Mental Health Act because of your OCD.
Please note that this is a newly revised resource.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a hidden condition that affects between 1-2% of the population and is frequently misunderstood. This leaflet will help you as an employer to understand OCD and how people with the condition can contribute to your workforce and deliver their best to you.
This guide will give you the information that you need to know about securing a referral outside your area to a national & specialist OCD service. It has some tips and ideas on how you can best present your case to your Psychiatrist who will need to make the referral and who might need to make a request to your local funder to pay for your treatment. This guide can be used alongside the referral request template letter produced by OCD Action’s Advocacy Service and available on the OCD Action website or via the OCD Action office. It can also be used for related conditions such as Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) or health anxiety.
Whether you are a tenant or a home owner, there could be times when your OCD is making your life very difficult.
Information about Community Mental Health Teams, referrals to them, and the assessment process.
Videos and Presentations 35 resources
Helping a loved one through treatment
Getting the most out of your CBt - Paul Salkovskis
Getting the most out of your CBT
Help for family members and carers
A look at Habit Disorders and treatment options
A look at coping with health anxiety
A look at how to cope with panic attacks
A look at phobias and treatment options
Looking at reassurance in OCD
An overview of BDD by Rob Willson given at National Conference 2014
A presentation by David Veale on OCD and depression, given at National Conference 2014
A presentation given by David Veale at our 2015 National Conference, on whether Mindfulness meditation is relevant to OCD and BDD.
A presentation given by Lynne Drummond at our 2015 National Conference, looking at new updates with OCD.
A presentation given by Lynne Drummond at our 2015 National Conference, looking at how best to support a person with OCD.
A presentation on 'How we see OCD', given by journalist and author, David Adam, at our 2015 National Conference.
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2018 National Conference: Developing a different relationship with intrusive thoughts and images, Professor David Veale
2018 National Conference: Developing a different relationship with intrusive thoughts and images, Professor David Veale
A talk given by Professor David Veale at our 2018 National Conference.
A presentation given by Dr Lynne Drummond at our 2018 National Conference.
An inspirational speech about overcoming intrusive thoughts, given by Rose Bretécher at our 2018 National Conference.
An inspirational speech given by David and Laurenne Goldstone at our 2018 National Conference.
A truly inspirational speech given by Chair of the OCD Youth Panel, Richard Taylor, at our 2018 National Conference.
A Q&A session with crew and contributors from the film 'UNSTUCK: An OCD Kids Movie', which took place at our 2018 National Conference.
A workshop delivered by the OCD Action Advocacy team on how to get what you want using self-advocacy skills.
A question and answer session about effective treatment for OCD, with Professor David Veale, Dr Lynne Drummond, Dr Rob Willson, Dr Amita Jassi and Ashley Curry.
An inspirational speech given by Sophie and David Goldstone, at our 2019 National Conference.
Author Rose Cartwright and TV presenter Sean Fletcher speak about how OCD is represented in media.
A presentation delivered by professor David Leave at our 2019 National Conference, in which he asked audience members to speak to and challenge their OCD on stage.
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2019 National Conference: Current and Future Psychological Help for OCD, Professor Paul Salkovskis
2019 National Conference: Current and Future Psychological Help for OCD, Professor Paul Salkovskis
Professor Paul Salkovskis provided an update on current treatments for OCD and explored future psychological help during his talk at our 2019 National Conference.
A presentation given by leading OCD expert Professor Paul Salkovskis at our 2019 National Conference.
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2019 National Conference: Overcoming Intrusive Sexual and Violent Thoughts and Images, Professor David Veale & Rose Cartwright
2019 National Conference: Overcoming Intrusive Sexual and Violent Thoughts and Images, Professor David Veale & Rose Cartwright
Professor David Veale and author Rose Cartwright discuss intrusive sexual and violent thoughts and answer questions from the audience, at our 2019 National Conference.
A Q&A panel with Dr Amita Jassi, Dr Bruce Clarke, Professor David Veale, Dr Ilenia Pampaloni and Professor Paul Salkovskis - chaired by Maria Bavetta (Maternal OCD).
The closing inspirational speech given by Dan Furlong at our 2019 National Conference
Answering your questions on recovering from Maternal OCD - Dr Fiona Challacombe, Catherine Benfield, Kim French and Diana Wilson (Maternal OCD)
A video message about OCD from Johnny Mercer MP who is also the Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Mental Health
Campaigning 4 resources
OCD Action's manifesto for improving access to quality treatment for people with OCD
Template letter to MPs
A downloadable poster for OCD Week of Action
Facebook and Twitter banners for OCD Week of Action
From the Online Community 13 resources
[View the story "Week of Action - Twitter chat on changing stigma" on Storify]
[View the story "OCD Week of Action - twitter chat on support groups" on Storify]
[View the story "OCD Week of Action - Twitter chat on Advocacy" on Storify]
[View the story "OCD Week of Action - Twitter chat on OCD, BDD and Treatment" on Storify]
[View the story "OCD Week of Action - Twitter chat on Child and Adolescent Mental Health" on Storify]
Ashley Curry and Kirsty Inman's appearance on HCR104fm, where they speak about OCD and their experiences with it.
A booklet put together by service users from The Wirral and Liverpool areas, which combines artwork, poetry and personal stories from people battling mental health issues, and aims to inspire, provide hope and useful tips to help on the journey to recovery.
Information and resources for HR professionals on how spot signs of OCD and support employers at work.
A guest post written by Ariel V.T, a writer and mental health advocate, writing for trichstop.com.
MAN_AGE aims to publish meaningful stories of perseverance amidst mental health struggles in an effort to challenge unnecessary societal pressures, create a community of voices and combat isolation.Visit the MAN_AGE websiteTwitter: @ManAgeOfficialInstagram: @ManAgeOfficialFacebook: @M
An article looking at Trichotillomania, the facts, treatment and personal stories
It's normal to have worries about how we look. But what happens when these concerns get so out of hand they stop you from going out? Body Dysmorphic Disorder is an obsessive preoccupation with perceived defects in ones appearance. The condition manifests through distressing compulsions such as o
An article written by Daisy Yuhas for Spectrum News: www.spectrumnews.org
Books and further reading 8 resources
Full NICE Guidelines
Outlines how OCD should be treated
Overview of the approved treatment for OCD
Article about the assessment of risk in OCD
Books focusing on OCD related Disorders
Self-assessment competency tool for Cognitive Behavioural Therapists, taken from IAPT website.
"When OCD Says You are a Monster" Treatment Strategies for Harm OCD & other Complex OCD; Master Clinician Workshop
Policies & Website Guides 1 resource
More detail about our Helpline and Email service.
Revised 01/14
Review date: 01/15
Our Reports 2 resources
Our advocacy service for adults with a diagnosis of OCD has now been running for 5 years and remains the only OCD-specific service in the UK. Our evaluation looks back over the difference we have made to the lives of those we have worked with, what we have learned along the way and how we see the future of the service.
External Links 4 resources
Maternal OCD is a charity that focuses on support for mothers with OCD
A website focusing on hoarding with a range of resources and further links
Website focusing on trichotillomania
Information about the International OCD Foundation, a non-profit organsation providing support, education and resources to those affected by OCD and related disorders, as well as professionals.