‘Invisible burden’ of obsessive compulsive disorder with more than 750,000 people in the UK affected
Date: 15th October 2024
PRESS RELEASE
A leading obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) specialist has warned the condition is an “invisible burden” with more than three quarters of a million people in the UK now affected – and young people particularly vulnerable.
Dr Himanshu Tyagi, a consultant neuropsychiatrist at Priory and an OCD neuroscience researcher at University College London, said the condition remained “misunderstood” as only around a third of those affected will ever receive a clinical diagnosis.
He warned that, alongside the significant impact on people’s physical and mental health, people with undiagnosed and untreated OCD are also likely to suffer up to £1 million in lost earnings and productivity over a 40-year period.
He is calling on the public and medical professionals to develop a better understanding of the condition urgently.
“We are experiencing a mental health crisis, but while there is growing public awareness of conditions such as ADHD, anxiety and depression, OCD is still a very misunderstood condition,” explained Dr Tyagi, who spoke out ahead of a summit he is hosting for the UK’s leading OCD clinicians as part of OCD Awareness Week 2024.
“Severe OCD can be as disabling as other serious mental health conditions, significantly impacting a person's ability to function in daily life.
“However, unlike depression and psychosis, there remains a widespread shortage of specialist centres for OCD which can provide National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommended multi-disciplinary treatment.
“Although it can affect individuals of all ages, most people develop OCD in adolescence or as young adults and, without greater understanding from both the medical profession and the wider public, young people will continue to develop escalating symptoms which can be catastrophic to their lifelong outcomes.”
OCD is a mental health condition characterised by recurring, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) that a person feels driven to perform to alleviate anxiety or distress.
Without timely treatment, such compulsions can increase and intensify over time, significantly limiting a person’s ability to function – and in some extreme cases, can be potentially life-threatening.
There are around three quarters of a million people with OCD in the UK and it is one of the five most common mental health disorders. It has been described by the World Health Organisation as one of the ten most disabling conditions amongst all physical and mental health illnesses.
Dr Tyagi said the signs of OCD are not always obvious and many people overlook how debilitating the condition – sometimes even seeing it as a positive trait.
“The signs of OCD are not always obvious,” he explained. “You may find yourself taking a step back from socialising, starting to become more conscious of cleanliness, or losing concentration, without realising that you could be suffering from OCD.
“Without timely treatment, they could become more serious and develop into life-altering obsessions or compulsions.
“OCD presents sufferers with such a heavy burden because it affects people in their formative years, thereby leaving a person without the skills required for daily living, sometimes even after successful treatment.”
Karen Katz, OCD Therapy Lead, Priory Hospital North London, said: “Most people do not realise how debilitating chronic OCD can be, with some even mistakenly believing it to be an odd but positive trait, being thorough in always checking the door is locked for example.
“The image of OCD as a positive personality trait couldn’t be further from the truth and it is important to distinguish between normal preferences for order or cleanliness and OCD. OCD involves distressing, time-consuming obsessions and compulsions that significantly interfere with daily life.”
Dr Tyagi who leads a nationally commissioned inpatient specialist service for OCD at Priory Hospital North London, where the OCD summit will take place tomorrow, added: “Chronic OCD leads to high rates of hospitalisation and attempted suicide, significantly reduces the chances of people experiencing healthy relationships, and prevents people from living normal, happy lives.
“Often people suffering with OCD are carrying an invisible burden, with compulsions or thoughts that others cannot easily see.”
As well as the impact on individuals, failure to diagnose OCD is having a significant impact on the UK’s economic performance. A growth in the prevalence of mental health problems in the UK is widely reported to be contributing to up 2.8m people being away from work due to ill health.
Dr Tyagi said: “According to one estimate, life-long OCD sufferers without successful treatment will each lose average of £1m over a 40 year period, in lost earnings and productivity.
“Sadly only around one third of OCD sufferers will ever receive a clinical diagnosis, in part due to limited understanding of the condition especially in its earlier stages or milder presentations when it is also likely to be more responsive to treatment. We urgently need to invest in improving our understanding of OCD, how it develops, and how it can be treated.”
Individuals concerned about potential early warning signs of OCD should contact their GP or seek a private assessment.
About OCD
These are common examples of OCD symptoms, but the condition can manifest in many other ways. If you're concerned about symptoms not listed here, consult a mental health professional.
- Overwhelming fear of germs or contamination
- Recurring involuntary thoughts that you might say something inappropriate or harm another person
- Constant worry that you forgot to lock a door or turn off an appliance
- Experiencing intrusive sexual thoughts or constantly questioning your sexuality
- Fearing that something bad will happen if you throw anything away, or a fear of losing things you might need
- Worrying that you have a serious disease, despite medical reassurances
- An obsession with order and symmetry, and being highly superstitious in relation to certain numbers, arrangements or colours
- An obsession with causing accident, injury, harm, danger or misfortune to yourself and others
- Repeating ritualistic actions a set number of times or for a certain amount of time. For example, turning a light switch on and off
- Washing your hands or bathing multiple times each day, regardless of need
- Only touching certain objects with a tissue or avoiding objects that may be contaminated
- Continually counting or repeating certain words over and over again
- Repeatedly seeking reassurance from other people
- Excessive praying or other religious rituals
- Hoarding or collecting items that you don’t need or use
- Thoughts about harming themselves or others
- Thoughts that are against their religious beliefs
- Thoughts about the strength of their relationship
- Thoughts about sexuality or sexual harm
ENDS
Contact: [email protected]
About Priory and MEDIAN Group
Priory is the UK’s largest independent provider of mental health and adult social care services. Priory treats more than 70 conditions, including depression, anxiety, addictions and eating disorders, as well as children’s mental health, across its nationwide network of sites. Priory also supports autistic adults and adults with a learning disability, Prader-Willi Syndrome and brain injuries, as well as older people, within specialist residential care and supported living facilities – helping as many people as possible to live their lives.
Priory is part of the MEDIAN Group, the leading European provider of high-quality mental health and rehabilitation services. The MEDIAN Group comprises: Priory in the UK with 290 facilities and 5,000 beds caring for 28,000 people, MEDIAN in Germany with 120 facilities and 20,000 beds caring for around 250,000 patients, and Hestia in Spain with 15 facilities and 2,100 beds caring for 11,000 people in Spain, with more than 29,000 employees across the group.