22nd February 2024

Background

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health disorder characterised by obsessions and impulses, followed by compulsion or repetitive behaviours. OCD is a serious mental illness that often has a debilitating effect on the individual’s quality of life and day to day function. It affects 2% of the population and occurs in men and women equally. Neuroimaging has shown a reduction in inhibition in the frontal lobe in OCD sufferers, making it more difficult for them to resist distressing and intrusive thoughts.