Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Test
Reviewed
An obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) test can help find out if certain symptoms are caused by OCD or a physical condition. This helps to make sure you get the right treatment to reduce your symptoms and improve your quality of life. OCD is a type of anxiety disorder. People with OCD may have obsessions, compulsions, or both. The test may involve a physical exam, blood tests to rule out other causes, and a detailed interview or questionnaire by a mental health provider.
Preparation and collection
You don't need any special preparations for an OCD test.
Understanding this test
Use the reference interval and units printed by the laboratory that performed the test. A result outside that interval is not a diagnosis by itself, and a result inside it does not rule out every condition. Your symptoms, history, medicines, timing, and related tests can change what the result means.
- 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 may include talk therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, other mental health counseling, or medicines such as certain types of antidepressants.
Evidence source
U.S. National Library of Medicine: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Test