Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Test

Why this test may be ordered

• This test may be done if you or your child is having obsessive thoughts and/or showing compulsive behaviors.
• Common obsessions include fear of germs or contamination, fear that harm will come to yourself or loved ones, an overwhelming need for neatness and order, constant worries that you've left something undone, fear of losing or misplacing something, fear of losing control over your behavior, forbidden thoughts or images involving sex or religion, and aggressive thoughts toward yourself or others.
• Common compulsions include repeated hand washing, checking and rechecking that appliances and lights are turned off, ordering or arranging items in a particular way, repeating certain actions, constantly cleaning, repeatedly checking buttons and zippers on clothing, and counting in a certain pattern over and over.

Preparation and collection

You don't need any special preparations for an OCD test.

If you are being tested by a mental health provider, they may ask you detailed questions about your thoughts and behaviors. You may also be asked to fill out a series of questions about these issues.

There is no risk to having a physical exam or filling out a series of questions for a mental health provider. There is very little risk to having a blood test.

Understanding results

To understand the results of an obsessive-compulsive disorder test, your provider will consider your symptoms, medical history, and the results of other tests.

• Symptoms consistent with OCD: Your symptoms would usually be considered obsessive-compulsive disorder when: the thoughts or behaviors take up an hour a day or more of your day, you can't control your excessive thoughts and behaviors, the behaviors may give you some relief from anxiety, but you don't enjoy performing the behaviors, the thoughts and behaviors interfere with personal relationships, work, and other important parts of daily life, they are not caused by a substance use disorder. Limitation: OCD is different than regular habits and routines. Next step: If you are diagnosed with OCD, your provider may refer you to a mental health provider for treatment.
• Symptoms may have another cause: Your health care provider may give you a physical exam and order blood tests to find out if your symptoms are being caused by certain medicines, another mental illness, or other physical disorders. Limitation: To understand the results of an obsessive-compulsive disorder test, your provider will consider your symptoms, medical history, and the results of other tests. Next step: This helps to make sure you get the right treatment to reduce your symptoms and improve your quality of life.

• The test is a screening assessment; it does not confirm a diagnosis.
• Results depend on honest and accurate self-reporting.
• There is a risk of false-positive or false-negative results.
• A physical exam and blood tests may be used to rule out other causes.

What to do next

If you are diagnosed with OCD, your provider may refer you to a mental health provider for treatment. Treatment can reduce your symptoms and improve your quality of life.

• Do you have repeated unwanted thoughts, urges, or images that cause distress or anxiety?
• Do you feel the need to perform behaviors over and over to reduce anxiety or stop obsessive thoughts?
• Do these thoughts or behaviors take up an hour or more a day?
• Can you control these excessive thoughts and behaviors?
• Do the behaviors give you some relief from anxiety, but you don't enjoy performing them? Do they interfere with personal relationships, work, or other important parts of daily life?

Evidence source

Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus). Practices and reference ranges may differ in your country.

U.S. National Library of Medicine: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Test

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