Assessing OCD: The Complete Guide for Clinicians
Breaking the Rules: A Clinician's Guide to Treating OCDShow Notes
Four years in, and we're going back to basics. In this episode of Breaking the Rules, Celin and Tori walk through the full OCD assessment process from the ground up - because with new listeners joining and so much focus on treatment in recent episodes, it felt like the right time to start at the beginning.
How do you actually assess for OCD? What does a comprehensive clinical interview look like? When do you bring in psychometrics? And what happens when the OCD isn't responding to ERP the way it should? Celine and Tori cover the full assessment process — from taking a developmental history to using the Y-BOCS, working through the DSM-5 criteria, and navigating differential diagnosis. They also discuss PANDAS and PANS: the rare but important condition where OCD is triggered by an infection, why ERP alone won't work, and how asking one simple question about recent illness can completely change a treatment pathway.
Whether you're a clinician new to the OCD space, refreshing the fundamentals, or someone who's wondered how OCD gets diagnosed — this one's for you. In this episode, you'll learn:
Why a full developmental history is non-negotiable — even with adult clients The two age of onset clusters for OCD and why they matter How to use the Y-BOCS as an interview tool rather than a take-home questionnaire Why scoring the Y-BOCS isn't enough — and what you still need to check Jonathan Grayson's Freedom from OCD scale as an alternative for clinicians new to the space The DSM-5 criteria for OCD explained in plain language How to differentiate OCD from anxiety disorders, autism, OCPD, and other co-occurring conditions What the insight specifier really means — and why good insight doesn't mean mild OCD What PANDAS and PANS are, how to spot them, and why they require medical treatment first How a thorough assessment sets you up seamlessly for ERP
Also featuring: a baby learning to roll over in the background. www.melbournewellbeinggroup.com.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from Breaking the Rules: A Clinician's Guide to Treating OCD
This one's for the parents. In this episode of Breaking the Rules, Dr Celin Gelgec and Dr Tori Miller tackle one of the most common questions they hear from families - I think my child might have OCD. Where do I even start?
OCD or Anxiety? It's Not a Black and White Question
ERP is the gold standard for OCD. But what happens when it's not enough on its own? In this episode of Breaking the Rules, Dr Celin Gelgec and Dr Tori Miller explore one of the most important — and least talked about — questions in OCD treatment: when and how to bring in other therapeutic modalities, and how to do it without abandoning the principles that make ERP work. Tori shares what traditional manualized ERP actually looked like in the early days of her career — rate your SUDS, watch the clock, wait for the anxiety to come down — and how the field has shifted since the inhibitory learning model changed the way we think about exposure. Celin reflects on her experience of always working in an integrated way, and why the principles of ACT have always felt like ERP to her — because they are. They also get honest about the moments when ERP becomes a battle. When the exposure menu turns into a war. When a client has every reason in the world not to engage — and what to do instead. Whether you're a clinician looking to expand your toolkit or someone living with OCD who's wondered why their therapist keeps talking about values and mindfulness - this episode will change how you think about what treatment can look like.
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