Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a chronic condition characterised by:

• Recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges or images (obsessions) that are intrusive, unwanted and cause marked anxiety and distress

• The individual attempts to suppress these obsessions by neutralising them with a thought or action (compulsions)

• These obsessions and compulsions are time consuming, and

• Cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational and other important areas of functioning

OCD affects around 2% of the population, which equates to over:

• 500,000 Australians, or

• 50,000 West Australians

OCD is a very treatable condition, but requires specialised clinical training for treatment to be most effective.

Current best practice treatment consists of:

• Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)

• +/- Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

Despite being very treatable, OCD continues to be a disabling condition due to being severely under-diagnosed, under-treated and under-funded in Australia. The consequences of sub-optimally treated OCD contribute to an annual loss of over $3.4 billion to the Australian economy. There is currently no dedicated funding, nor a national peak body to advocate for the OCD community. 

This is our ‘why’.

The team at OCD WA are dedicated to ensuring best practice treatment is accessible for everyone, no matter who you are or where you live. Feel free to get in touch any time, to see how we can assist you.