Online survey of treatment experiences for obsessive-compulsive disorder

Introduction There is a lack of knowledge about the treatment experiences of people living with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Method Participants with OCD ( n = 202) took part in an online survey in which they answered questions about what treatment they had received. They also completed measures of current OCD, anxiety and depression. Results Scores above the clinical cut-off for OCD were high (> 70%) across the sample, irrespective of what kind of treatment had been received. Despite this, most participants felt their OCD was better now than it had been pre-treatment. Mean OCD scores were similar between treatment groups (OCD-focused, partly OCD-focused, non-OCD focused, no treatment), though there was some evidence that OCD-focused treatment was associated with lower OCD scores, especially for symptoms of hoarding, neutralising and ordering. Discussion These findings contribute to evidence of unmet need in OCD care. Practitioners should be aware that OCD is often a chronic condition which requires specialist care, and may require more than one course of treatment.