You might think you have a pretty good idea of what obsessive compulsive disorder entails.

Maybe you've heard someone say, I'm so OCD, when they're just talking about how they like to keep a neat house or how they're always punctual.

But OCD is not synonymous with liking neatness and order, and it encompasses more than just the hand washing or counting or similar compulsions that

many people are familiar with. In fact, it's a multifaceted mental health disorder that

seriously affects people's lives, but it's also treatable with evidence-based therapies.

Today we're going to talk to two experts, a psychologist who studies OCD, and an advocate with

lived experience, to do some myth-busting about this misunderstood disorder.

So what is obsessive-compulsive disorder and how does it differ from the stereotypes?

How common is OCD in both adults and children?

What causes it?

What effective treatments are available?

And if you or someone you love is struggling with OCD, where can you go for help and what should you look for in a treatment provider?

Welcome to Speaking of Psychology, the flagship podcast of the American Psychological Association, that

examines the links between psychological science and everyday life.

I'm Kim Mills.

We have two guests today.

First is Dr. Dean McKay, a professor in the Department of Psychology at Fordham University,

where he heads the compulsive, obsessive, and anxiety program laboratory. Dr. McKay's research focuses on the nature

and treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder, as well as anxiety disorders, and the role of disgust

in psychopathology. He has edited or co-edited 21 books and published more than 300

journal articles and book chapters. He is also a board certified clinical psychologist and director

and founder of the Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Research, a private

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