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Select treatment area Bladder & Kidneys Blood Brain & nervous system Cancer Children's health Diabetes Digestive system Ear, nose & throat Eating & weight Eyes Fertility Heart and circulation Hormones Infections Lungs & breathing Men's health Mental health Mouth Muscles & bones Pregnancy & childbirth Sexual health Skin Sleep Staying healthy Travel health Women's health

We can't say exactly what will happen to you. It depends on how severe your obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is and how well treatment works for you.

OCD affects different people in different ways. Some people find their symptoms come and go. This is called episodic OCD. Other people have the symptoms all the time. This is called chronic OCD. Chronic is a word doctors use to describe any medical condition that lasts a long time. Just over half of people with OCD have the chronic form.¹

People who have OCD tend to have it come and go for the first one to nine years. People who have OCD for longer than this tend to get the chronic type.²

Between about 4 in 10 and 5 in 10 people find their symptoms of OCD get better in time.² Getting treatment can also help improve your symptoms.

Very severe OCD can make it very difficult for you to work or have a normal life at home.^{3 4} OCD is a real illness that you can't control by an effort of will. It's not your fault you have it and it isn't caused by any kind of weakness in your personality. However, there are things you can do to try to help yourself and get the most out of treatment. Things that may help include:^{3 4}

• Learning as much as you can about OCD
• Talking through all the treatment options with your doctor
• Asking for self-help materials, such as books that talk about how to cope with OCD
• Asking about support groups in your area
• Letting your doctor know about new or worse symptoms, side effects of treatment or problems in your life that might make your OCD worse
• Involving family members or friends in your treatment if you feel this would be helpful.

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.