Fastest way to get a prognosis/diagnosis?

[outlook0202]

Hi, I am new to understanding what OCD is. I am on welfare benefits and have a tendency to frequently save up money, rarely spending it. I believe this pattern could be down to it helping me feel 'secure', even though I know I will be fine regardless of whether I spend a lot of savings or not.

I need something formal to explain this OCD behaviour to the welfare benefits regulator with medical evidence, as I am going through a review with them about my saving limits and need proof of this being an issue. I am already on the waiting list for CBT but know this can take months.

Of course I could speak to a GP but they would only at best surmise OCD, and trying to match my situation to online pages probably will not work. Are there specific centres which diagnose OCD in the same way that say autism is diagnosed, or is it just a case of waiting for any mental professional?

Thanks.

[CessnaPilot]

hi Outlook. I hope you are doing ok. I think for some there is a standardized test that they use to determine OCD, but I don’t remember if I took one or not. When I finally went to treatment the first time, I think it was very evident what I was suffering from. I would see if you can get a referral to psychiatry from your GP. normally it’s pretty evident if you have OCD or not. Best of luck to you! You can beat OCD! It’s hard but worth it!

[outlook0202 in reply to CessnaPilot]

Thanks Cessna, if you dont mind me asking what did the OCD test involve and how long did it last for? Also did you get a clinical diagnosis of OCD that was put on your medical record?

[CessnaPilot in reply to outlook0202]

Good morning Outlook. I actually don’t remember if there was a test or just asking questions to determine my OCD. Yes, I have a diagnosis of OCD on my medical record. As others have said, the best route I believe is to share your thoughts that you may have OCD with your doctor so hopefully they can get you to the correct specialist ASAP. I wish you well and will keep you in my thoughts. Good news—it’s hard, but with hard work you can get better!

[CessnaPilot in reply to outlook0202]

Hi Outlook. Sorry I am slow to reply. I was doing some reading today and the article said there is no test for OCD. so I guess my memory might be incorrect. Maybe my symptoms were so bad when I finally went into treatment, that I was easy to diagnose. Yes, I do have a diagnosis of OCD in my medical records. Hope this is helpful to you.

[Hedgehog25]

Hi there, are you in the UK? I self-referred through my GP for talking therapies and was diagnosed with OCD by a clinical psychologist. Because this was NHS and not private therapy, they automatically wrote to my GP so everything is on my medical record. I had to wait several weeks to get an appointment, but once there I was able to explain my suspicion of OCD and they worked with me very quickly. The actual test itself took place over a 2 hour video interview answering lots and lots of questions, followed by several questionnaires to answer on my own. I would suggest seeing your GP to see if you can perhaps fast-track getting this initial diagnosis appointment. I didn’t have any kind of time constraint like it seems you do. Good luck.

[outlook0202]

Hi Hedgehog, yeah I am from the UK and spoke to talking therapies recently but they said they can only put me on a waiting list for counselling or CBT. I had no idea you could speak to a clinical psychologist about this specifically, but maybe your talking therapies is different to mine with the services they offer. Mind if I ask which city you are from? Also was your OCD ever manifested in hoarding up money, or was it other habits you noticed about yourself?

[Natureloverpeace in reply to outlook0202]

I know someone who got some help in navigating the NHS system for trying to get appropriate treatment for OCD from someone at OCD-UK. Unfortunately, the NHS doesn’t follow what is recommended by OCD experts, specialists and researchers on how to treat OCD. Also, talk therapy is ineffective for OCD and can even make it worse. The IOCDF and OCD-UK are both good resources for learning about OCD. Orchard OCD is a research based organization out of the UK. Sometimes people can get some treatment by joining a research study if they can’t get appropriate treatment elsewhere.

[PhilipKDick in reply to outlook0202]

I'm also in the UK and also in the earlier stages of receiving treatment. I referred myself through the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies scheme (IAPT). I had a phone consultation with a really lovely man and am now on a waiting list. As with all things NHS waiting lists can be really long. But they emailed me the referral letter. It also syncs up with the NHS app. If you don't have the app, but if not you should get it. All your health records can be accessed by you through that app, basically giving you quick access to the stuff that would have historically been locked up in a GP's filing cabinet. In any case, once you're going through the diagnosis/treatment process, all referrals and records will exist either in email, on the NHS app or both. The benefits people may then choose to be arseholes, but if you send the referral letter that should count as proof, even if you've not got a definitive diagnosis. My referral letter says 'probable OCD' or something along those lines.

[Hedgehog25 in reply to outlook0202]

I’m in London. I was put in touch with South London and Maudsley NHS mental health services. I noticed a lot of checking, responsibility and “just right” sensations. I think I had a similar experience to what PhilipKDick describes here. A really helpful assessment phone call, followed by a referral for CBT which happened to be with a clinical psychologist who then wrote to my doctor saying “likely OCD” as well.

[Natureloverpeace]

The Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) and the Dimensional Obsessive Compulsive Scale (DOCS) are tests that are used in the diagnosis of OCD as well as rating its severity. The Obsessive Compulsive Rating Scale-Revised (OCI-R) can be helpful.

[Sallyskins]

The benefits system is difficult to navigate, but there are charities and agencies that can help you do so. If there is a Centre for Independent Living or a disabled rights organization near you, talk to them, as they can often give practical help with claiming benefits.

I haven't come across hoarding money as an OCD symptom, but OCD is such a broad category that takes so many forms, so that isn't surprising.

It can help to do your own CBT while you're waiting for a professional to guide you through it. The books I suggest, because they have helped me, are The OCD Workbook and Overcoming Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, which additionally has the Y-BOCS and other tests and scales in the appendices.

I agree that talking therapies are pretty useless in tackling OCD - really, CBT is the gold standard - and though they can be useful in addressing your psychological make up and any trauma you might have suffered, they really aren't the answer to OCD.

[Cromerbrian]

hi speak to ocd action they are really helpful,many gp s don’t understand ocd very well so I d ask ocd action for advice

Take care brian