What do the results mean?
Your provider may use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) to help make a diagnosis. The DSM-5 (fifth edition of the DSM) is a book published by the American Psychiatric Association. It provides guidelines for diagnosing mental health conditions. The DSM-5 defines OCD as obsessions and/or compulsions that:
Take up an hour a day or more
Interfere with personal relationships, work, and other important parts of daily life
The guidelines also include the following symptoms and behaviors.
Symptoms of obsession include:
Repeated unwanted thoughts
Trouble stopping those thoughts
Compulsive behaviors include:
Repetitive behaviors such as hand washing or counting
Behaviors done to reduce anxiety and/or prevent something bad from happening
Treatment for OCD usually includes one or both of the following:
Psychological counseling
Antidepressants
