Assessing OCD: The Complete Guide for Clinicians

Do you know the difference between an OCD compulsion and an autistic ritual? Can you score a Y-BOCS and still miss the diagnosis? And what do you do when ERP isn't working - and the answer turns out to be a strep infection? In this back-to-basics episode of Breaking the Rules, Dr Celin Gelgec and Dr Tori Miller walk through the full OCD assessment process from the ground up — because getting the assessment right is what makes everything that follows possible. Four years in, they're returning to fundamentals. Whether you're a clinician new to the OCD space, a psychologist refreshing your practice, or someone who's wondered how OCD actually gets diagnosed — this episode will change how you approach assessment. 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 missing them means missing the picture How to run the Y-BOCS as an interview tool rather than a take-home questionnaire — and why the difference matters Why a high Y-BOCS score is not enough to make an OCD diagnosis Jonathan Grayson's Freedom from OCD assessment scale as a practical alternative for clinicians new to the space The DSM-5 criteria for OCD explained clearly — including why the theme of the obsession is irrelevant to the diagnosis How to differentiate OCD from anxiety disorders, autism, OCPD, dependent personality disorder, and other co-occurring conditions What the insight specifier really means — and why a client with excellent insight can still have severe OCD What PANDAS and PANS are, how to recognise sudden-onset OCD, and why ERP alone won't work until the infection is treated How a thorough assessment sets you up seamlessly for psychoeducation and ERP Celin and Tori also discuss the tension between meeting clients where they're at and still gathering the information you need — and why a good assessment is where effective treatment truly begins. Learn more about Melbourne Wellbeing Group: https://melbournewellbeinggroup.com.au #ocd #obsessivecompulsivedisorder #erptherapy #clinicalpsychology #psychologist #mentalhealth #OCDassessment #YBOCS #DSM #PANDAS #intrusivethoughts #compulsions #differentialdiagnosis #melbournewellbeinggroup #breakingtherules