The impact of our research
With 3% of Australians experiencing obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in their lifetime, you probably know someone affected. OCD can cause significant distress and is linked with higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide.
Medical research is urgently needed so we can develop better diagnostic tools and treatments.
QIMR Berghofer researchers have been running a clinical trial on OCD for eight years. We’re testing a brain stimulation treatment so we can develop more effective treatments and interventions.
We're a step closer to solving what causes OCD, after discovering changes in how distinct brain regions communicate.
About OCD
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a severe and highly distressing mental illness. OCD can lead to social isolation, interpersonal difficulties, functional impairment, and financial problems.
People with OCD experience both obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are persistent and intrusive thoughts, while compulsions are repetitive behaviours that are usually in response to the obsessions themselves. These can be time-consuming, cause personal distress, and typically only offer temporary relief from the underlying anxiety that drives the behaviour.
It’s estimated that 3% of Australians experience OCD in their lifetime so there’s a good chance you know someone affected.
Typically, OCD starts in early adulthood and persists throughout life. While medication and psychological therapy can improve symptoms, these treatments don’t work for many individuals.
OCD affects people differently but usually has two main elements:
- Obsessions – repeated unwanted, intrusive and often distressing thoughts, images or urges that cause anxiety or distress.
- Compulsions – repetitive behaviours that people feel driven to perform in an attempt to relieve their anxiety and obsession.
Common obsessions and compulsions include:
- washing hands until they are red raw;
- checking doors or the stove repeatedly;
- counting in particular patterns;
- repeating specific phrases.
OCD is generally treated with:
- cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT);
- medications to help minimise symptoms, usually an antidepressant.
However, current medications are not specific to OCD and only meaningfully reduce symptoms in a small proportion of individuals.