Diagnosing OCD and the Importance of Follow-Up Questions

Diagnosing OCD involves administering brief tests, such as the Obsessive Compulsive Inventory, which can indicate the need for further testing. However, self-report questionnaires alone are not sufficient, and trained mental health practitioners must ask important follow-up questions to understand the impact of the condition on one's life. Many individuals suffer from OCD for a long time without realizing that there is treatment available, and practitioners, especially primary care physicians, could play a key role in better understanding and identifying OCD, ultimately saving patients time, frustration, and pain.