Listed
amongst the top 10 most debilitating illnesses by the World Health Organisation
in terms of loss of income and decreased quality of life, Obsessive Compulsive
Disorder is thought to affect 2-3% of the UK population.
OCD-UK aims to improve awareness of the condition both amongst the general public and within the medical community, with the long term aim of campaigning to ensure that every sufferer receives the quality of treatment they deserve. We also facilitate a safe environment for people affected by OCD to communicate with each other and provide mutual understanding and support.
How can you help make a positive difference to sufferers lives? By making a donation (every penny really makes a difference), or you can help by joining OCD-UK, which will help us achieve our goals and make a real difference to the lives of people affected by OCD.
There are a number of easy ways that you can donate to OCD-UK, details of which are listed on our donation page.
May 6, 2007
Could you help Professor Salkovskis and his colleagues with their research?
To continue the success of their current research programmes aimed at improving the understanding and treatment of individuals with anxiety problems, Professor Salkovskis and his colleagues are looking for participants for their studies.
This is a research study investigating reassurance seeking, which is a common reaction when people feel anxious. We are recruiting participants who are aged 18-65, and currently have diagnosis of OCD. Please note that we are interested in people who do not seek much (or any!) reassurance but also those who do.
We will send a 20-page questionnaire which takes about 40 minutes to complete. You will receive £10 gift voucher for taking part. The questionnaire also has the information about the experimental study in which you may be interested.
Read the full research brief for full information
May 6, 2008
A Better Way - By Stuart
OCD sufferers come from all walks of life and, despite the illness, can, in some cases, achieve great things, either personally or professionally.
We have many examples of this on our website of sufferers' creative work, and today we were delighted to receive Stuart's story and a copy of him singing 'A Better Way'.
Read Stuart's story and listen to A Better Way.
Stuart's Story | A Better Way (MP3)
April 22nd, 2008
2009 London Marathon
OCD-UK have secured a single place in the 2009 London Marathon. We are inviting those interested in taking part for OCD-UK to contact us for an application form. From this, we will select a runner by October 2008.
We recommend that if you are willing to run on our behalf, to still apply through the normal ballot. If you do secure a place this way we will of course provide our support and advice in helping you achieve your fundraising target for OCD-UK.
The public ballot for the final 35,000 places is due to close shortly so we recommend you register today. Click here to visit the London Marathon website.
April 20th, 2008
Perfect - Audio Recording CD
Perfect is an original project of music, readings and interviews by Nelli Hogan relating to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
The audio CD running time is approx 58 minutes and includes an interview with OCD-UK patron, Professor Paul Salkovskis.
Nelli has kindly donated 20% of sales to OCD-UK when ordered through ourselves. To order the CD, which costs £10 (inc P+P) please send a cheque made payable to OCD-UK or make a donation online for £10 (add a note in the additional information box to refer to the audio CD).
April 15th, 2008
OCD Inspirational Conference
Saturday 18th October 2008, Derby.
The OCD-UK 2008 'Inspirational OCD Conference' promises something different, with a focus on the artistic talents of people with OCD.
Our previous conferences have taken place across the UK, in Stirling, Bristol and Greenwich. This years event will take place in Derby, in the East Midlands. Derby offers excellent transport links, with direct rail services from Scotland, London and the South West.
Featuring keynote lectures by world renowned OCD experts, including Professor Paul M. Salkovskis and Dr Raj Persaud, our conference will be interspersed with poetry readings by OCD sufferers, reading their own poetry, and featuring a live performance by OCD sufferer and live singer Karley, who will perform her song Sometimes.
We are now taking bookings for our conference and we hope to see many of you there. The event is priced at just £15 for OCD-UK members and £9 for each family/friend you wish to bring along.
Non OCD-UK members are welcome to attend. The price for non OCD-UK members is £25 per person.
Read about our previous conferences | Book for our 2008 conference
March 20th, 2008
Has your child got OCD?
Are you interested in taking part in a research project investigating the caregiving experiences of parents of children and young people with a diagnosis of obsessive compulsive disorder?
Annabel Futh is looking for parents/ carers of children under 18 years who are willing to write about their experiences and complete a few questionnaires. Read our research page for more information.
March 14th, 2008
Sometimes - By Karley
OCD sufferers come from all walks of life and, despite the illness, can, in some cases, achieve great things, either personally or professionally.
We have many examples of this on our website of sufferers' creative work, and today we were delighted to receive Karley's story and a copy of her singing 'Sometimes' on lead vocals.
Read Karley's story and listen to Sometimes.
Karley's Story | Sometimes (MP3)
February 29th, 2008
HOCD, POCD and ROCD - The truth behind the terms!
By Kathryn Dwyer
Recently, on our forums and on other OCD-based resources the terms
HOCD, POCD and ROCD have started to be used with increased
frequency. Up until recently and despite being a very aware charity, we
at OCD-UK didn’t really know if these terms had any scientific
meaning, or were just made-up acronyms. A discussion topic was
started on the online forums which caused some debate and
consternation as to exactly what the two terms mean.........
Read the full article in our members magazine, Compulsive Reading which includes comment from Dr Raj Persaud, Prof Paul Salkovskis, Dr Steven Phillipson and Dr Fred Penzel.
All new members receive a complimentary copy of the magazine, or you can purchase a copy from our online shop.
5k Registration Pack | Events Page
February 28th, 2008
Run For OCD-UK - 5k Run Series
The Doitforcharity.com run series is a collection of 5km runs which will be taking place in London, Birmingham and Manchester in the spring/summer of 2008. The Doitforcharity 5k runs are for people of all ages and fitness levels. It is a gentle 5km course, which you
can jog, run or walk. The emphasis will be on unhurried fun!
Over 3,000 people are expected to take part, raising funds for hundreds of different charities and now this is your chance to join them and take part for OCD-UK!
We only have 25 places available, so join in the fun. Download your registration pack now, or contact us for more information or to receive your registration pack.
5k Registration Pack | Events Page
February 27th, 2008
Gemma's Success Story - Education The Key
Always keen to emphasise that it is possible to achieve success over ones OCD, we were delighted when we received a fax from Gemma, from her local CMHT, highlighting her own success in limiting the impact of OCD on her. Gemma was keen for us to display the fax in the hope it encourages others to educate themselves more about their illness, and in turn, to empower them to manage and treat their OCD.
"We were impressed by the extensive research and reading that you have undertaken for yourself. We thought that you had developed a good understanding of how OCD can develop and be maintained. You have also been able to limit the impact of OCD on your life with real success, and made great use of the support offered through OCD-UK."
February 19th, 2008
Understanding OCD
The following PowerPoint presentation was created by OCD-UK volunteer, Scott Wigglesworth and was created in order to try and explain what OCD is It may be suitable for family, friends, carers of OCD sufferers and some health professionals trying to get a better understanding of the illness.
To view the presentation, you will need PowerPoint installed on your PC and click each slide to progress to the next slide. View the slideshow or to view a PDF of the presention click here.
View the PowerPoint presentation | View PDF of the presentation
February 6th, 2008
Carers OCD Conference 2009
Family members play a vital role in the recovery process of a person with OCD and just like the person with OCD, family members can suffer just as much.
Over the last year we have begun researching the problems faced by Family, friends and carers (FFC), and how we, as a charity can help you. Therefore we are planning to host a conference specifically for family, friends and carers of OCD sufferers during Spring 2009 and we are seeking your help in preparation. Read more...
January 20th, 2008
Easy Search The OCD-UK Way
Easysearch (part of the Easyfundraising team) is our new charity search engine where you can raise funds for OCD-UK, simply by surfing the web!
Powered by 
the world's 2nd largest search provider, easysearch works just like Google giving you fast, accurate search results every time you search online. But unlike Google, easysearch gives you something back!
When you search using easysearch, OCD-UK will receive around a penny for every search you make. It doesn't sound like much, but the pennies soon mount up and a keen searcher can raise £25.00 a year - or more - just through your normal online searching!
So bookmark your new search engine: http://ocduk.easysearch.org.uk/
Easysearch is completely free to use, so this is a great way to support OCD-UK, just by surfing the web as you do already!
Go to Easysearch to search online for OCD-UK | Go to Easyfundraising to shop for OCD-UK
November 28, 2007
REACH for Recovery
When OCD takes its grip it can be very difficult, seemingly impossible to see a way forward. Designed by the OCD-UK chair, Maria Bavetta, we hope this simple and practical 5 point plan, which can be practiced daily, will help initiate and maintain recovery.
REACH for recovery - PDF printout (19 kb)
So print it out and pin it to your fridge to remind yourself of these 5 tips to initiate or maintain recovery.
View and printout the REACH for recovery printout | Discuss in our forums
November 26, 2007
Brain pattern associated with genetic risk of OCD
Cambridge researchers have discovered that individuals with OCD and their close family members have distinctive patterns in their brain structure. This is the first time that scientists have associated a genetic trait with family risk for the disorder.
These new findings, reported today in the journal Brain, could help predict whether individuals are at risk of developing OCD and lead to more accurate diagnosis of the disorder.
An OCD-UK spokesperson commented: "We hope this new evidence may lead to a much larger study which helps conclusively prove these findings, which in turn help to pinpoint a contributory factor into the exact cause of OCD which is so widely debated at the moment."
Read the full story in our news pages
October 10th, 2007
CBT Waiting Times Down to 2 Weeks by 2010?
OCD-UK has learned that the government is to spend millions more on providing CBT in England.
Health Secretary Alan Johnson said by 2010, £170m a year would be spent - allowing 900,000 more people to be treated using psychological therapies.
Currently, on average, patients wait 18 months to start treatment. The new plan aims to reduce that wait to just a fortnight, in line with improvements in outpatient waiting times in other parts of the NHS.
The Department of Health said that all GP surgeries would have access to the treatments as the programme 'rolled out' across the country. It is planned to recruit an extra 3,600 therapists.
OCD-UK welcome this positive move for people with OCD and other anxiety disorders. However we hope that this is just the start of more funding to improve the lives of people with depression and anxiety disorders, and to ensure the long term stability of the proposed targets. We are concerned that any future change in political power may mean a shift of this funding to other 'high profile' areas of the NHS and hope that quality is not sacrificed for shorter waiting times.
July 1, 2007
Come and meet Jolly and Grump
Our brand new children's OCD awareness booklet is now available for download.
OCD-UK would like to acknowledge our dedicated team of volunteers who worked on this project and created this superb booklet.
Download our children's OCD awareness booklet (1.73mb) PDF
May 21, 2007
News Exclusive: DOH Funding for Severe OCD
New Department of Health funding means that patients with severe OCD or BDD should now find their route to specialist treatment easier to negotiate, with the news of NSCAG funding removing the need for prior funding approval from patients' own local Primary Care Trust (PCT).
At present, if a patient with OCD or BDD is referred to one of the specialist centres, then approval must be given by the local PCT before the patient can receive treatment, and this often leads to delays and refusal of treatment for the patient. Most services provided in the NHS are funded by local primary care trusts (PCTs) to meet the needs of their local population through contracts negotiated with GP practices, hospitals and dentists etc. The National Specialist Commissioning Advisory Group (NSCAG) was set up to advise Department of Health (DH) Ministers on which NHS services are best commissioned nationally, rather than locally, to ensure a high quality of clinical care and equity of access for patients as well as securing value for money.
Given that OCD and BDD are closely related conditions, a severe OCD and BDD service was jointly designated and commissioned by the NSCAG from 1st April 2007 on behalf of English residents. Scottish residents also have access to the service under an agreement between NSCAG and the National Services Division, Scotland. Health Commission Wales has separate agreements with providers for Welsh residents.
The new service is limited and the designated centres providing the NSCAG commission treatment will have caps on the amount of patients they can see each year. However, OCD-UK are delighted that those in our community most desperately needing treatment will find their route to treatment easier to navigate, with the red tape of funding now removed.
There are four designated centres providing treatment. These are:
- London - South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (adults and adolescents)
- London - South West London & St George's Mental Health NHS Trust (adults)
- London - The Priory Hospital North London (adults and adolescents)
- St Albans - Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Trust (adults)
Treatment provided by the four centres will be in line with NICE guidance and will be for patients with the very severe OCD, defined as 'Level 6' in the guidance, who have not responded to standard treatments. This includes at least two previous courses of CBT and the requirement for the patient to have had a course of SSRI medications is currently being debated.
Referral to the new service will be from the patient's own local mental health team, who will need to make a referral for the patient for NSCAG funding at one of the four designated centres.
July 21, 2006
What do I say?
One problem that we see frequently is the difficult task of actually
telling your GP what is troubling you. So often we see the same worries,
'What do I say', 'I get to the Doctors and skirt around the real issues',
'I don't know where to start', 'I'm too 
embarrassed
to say', 'It's so hard to tell my Doctor'.
Often, it is that opening sentence that is the hardest to say. So, to help with such problems, we have put together a single, printable information sheet that can simply be handed to your GP. Hopefully, this will break the ice and allow your GP to ask the necessary questions that will enable them to correctly diagnose and offer the best available treatment.
The form can be downloaded completely free of charge or available upon request with a SAE.
Well done Caramoole and Scott for this idea and following the project through to competition... by sufferers, for sufferers.
Download the What Do I Say GP sheet.
What is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?
Often
referred to as the secret illness, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
is a condition where a person will experience repetitive, intrusive and
unwelcome thoughts (the obsessions), which will usually cause the person
to carry out repetitive behaviours (the compulsions) in a vain attempt
to relieve themselves of the obsessions.
Sufferers are plagued by persistent, recurring thoughts about feared situations (obsessions), which they attempt to fight with mental or physical rituals, excessive repetition of actions, washing, checking or counting, or agonised ruminations (compulsions).
Common obsessions include fears around contamination, causing harm to one's self or others, inappropriate sexual thoughts, hypochondria and 'unlucky' numbers.
Most sufferers are actually aware that their fears and behaviour
are irrational but feel unable to control them.
Full detailed description of OCD | Related Disorders | Treatments
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