Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

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OCD Diagnosis

There is no laboratory test for OCD. Diagnosis is made with the following:

• Close clinical examination of emotional past
• Criteria for diagnosis
• Current symptoms
• Differential diagnosis
• Examination of family history (see risk factors)

OCD can be mild or severe. There are four essential factors in the diagnosis of OCD that distinguish OCD from ordinary, mildly intrusive worries or brooding. They are the following:

1. Symptoms cause significant distress
2. Symptoms take up more than 1 hour a day
3. Symptoms significantly interfere with work, relationships, or daily functioning
4. The person recognizes that his or her obsessions and compulsions are unreasonable or excessive

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