OCD diagnosis

It can be challenging to diagnose OCD because its signs and symptoms often overlap with other conditions: namely, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, other anxiety disorders, depression, schizophrenia, and other mental health conditions. It’s also possible to have OCD along with another mental health disorder.

Some steps that may be used to diagnose¹³ OCD include:

• Asking you about your signs and symptoms, including their frequency and severity
• Performing a physical exam to assess whether any health conditions or medications you’re taking might be triggering your symptoms
• Conducting a psychological evaluation, including discussing your thoughts, emotions, symptoms, and behaviors. This might also include talking to your family and friends (with your permission). This is especially common in diagnosing children, who may not be able to evaluate their symptoms in a subjective manner.

Specialists will also likely consult the criteria¹⁴ listed in the most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5, published by the American Psychiatric Association) to diagnose OCD.