🧠 The Human and Economic Impact of OCD | Margherita Zenoni | Orchard OCD Conference 2026

What is the true cost of OCD — for the people living with it, their families and wider society? In this talk from the Orchard OCD International Scientific Conference 2026, Margherita Zenoni explores the human and socioeconomic impact of OCD and makes the case for greater recognition, earlier intervention and increased investment in research. Drawing on her own lived experience, her work at Orchard OCD and her research as a PhD candidate at the University of Cambridge, Margherita challenges the misconceptions that trivialise OCD and highlights how profoundly it can affect education, employment, relationships and everyday life. The talk presents findings from a UK cost-of-illness analysis conducted by Orchard OCD and Costello Medical, exploring the financial burden associated with OCD and how much of that burden falls on individuals and their families, beyond healthcare services. Topics include barriers to accessing treatment, the impact on unpaid carers, lost opportunities to study and work, and why better treatment pathways and new therapies are urgently needed. At its heart, the talk is a call to turn scientific progress into tangible change — and to keep the people affected by OCD at the centre of that work. 🎥 Watch the conference recap video: [Conference recap](   • Orchard OCD International Scientific Confe...  ) 📚 Programme, educational materials and recorded conference sessions: [Explore the conference resources](https://app.orchardocd.org/events/sch...) 🌱 Find out more about Orchard OCD: [www.orchardocd.org](https://www.orchardocd.org/) #OCD #OCDResearch #LivedExperience #HealthEconomics #MentalHealthResearch #OrchardOCD