Tests, Screening, Criteria
No blood test or imaging study can diagnoseobsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
This article will cover how OCD is diagnosed and what to expect from OCD screening.
Verywell / Zoe Hansen
At-Home OCD Testing
You should not take a stab at self-diagnose OCD.
Verywell / Zoe Hansen
Only a qualified and licensed mental health professional can diagnose you with OCD.
For example, some assessments are meant for adults, while others are only for kids.
The assessments may help you organize your thoughts and describe what youre feeling during your appointment.
They will also ask about any medications or supplements you are taking and if you use any substances.
A provider will inquire as to why you think you have OCD.
The Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale Self-Report and the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory are the gold standard assessments for diagnosing OCD.
Plan to spend around 60 to 90 minutes in their office.
Certain health conditions can cause symptoms that look like OCD but need to be treated differently.
A mental health care provider with an MD (psychiatrist) can also order medical tests.
They may do so to help confirm a diagnosis or plan treatment.
Conditions that can share symptoms with OCD include:
These disorders have their own diagnostic criteria in the DSM-5.
You should not take a stab at self-diagnose yourself with OCD.
If youre having symptoms that are troubling you, reach out to a healthcare provider.
Rapp AM, Bergman RL, Piacentini J, McGuire JF.Evidence-based assessment of obsessive-compulsive disorder.J Cent Nerv Syst Dis.
2016;8:13-29. doi:10.4137/JCNSD.S38359
National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) test.
University of Pennsylvania.Center for the treatment of anxiety.
American Psychiatric Association.What is obsessive-compulsive disorder?.
2020;9(Suppl 1):S76-S93.
doi:10.21037/tp.2019.10.02
Fontenelle LF.Clinical features and differential diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder.Psychiatric Annals.
2020;11:554. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00554
International OCD Foundation.Signs & symptoms of PANDAS/PANS.
