Lesser-Known Subtypes of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Course for Healthcare Providers

We are currently accepting enrollments. The course will open on July 11, 2023.

This 3-hour, on-demand online course covers 5 lesser-known subtypes of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder that many health care providers are not aware of and often misdiagnose. These include: Sexual Orientation OCD, Suicidal/Self-harm OCD, Aggressive OCD, Relationship OCD, and Pedophilia OCD. This course focuses on differential diagnosis and will include several role plays to help demonstrate how health care workers might go about diagnosing a patient with OCD and distinguishing it from other mental health disorders. This process is crucial for treatment planning.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ranks in the top 10 most disabling illnesses by the World Health Organization. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is defined by the presence of obsessions and/or compulsions that are time consuming and/or result in significant distress or impairment. Obsessions can be persistent thoughts, urges or images that are experienced as intrusive and unwanted. Compulsions can be repetitive behavioral or mental acts either designed to suppress or neutralize obsessions or done according to specific rules in order to prevent or reduce distress or some dreaded event or situation.

The lifetime prevalence of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is between 2 and 3% of the population. Many Primary Care Physicians, Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Social Workers, Nurses, and Nurse Practitioners will treat patients who struggle with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder throughout their career. It can take as long as 14 to 17 years for people with OCD to get properly diagnosed (Stengler, et al., 2013) and OCD patients are often misdiagnosed or undiagnosed up to rates of 70%, which means they aren’t receiving treatment in a timely fashion or at all. When patients get properly diagnosed, it opens the door to receiving appropriate treatment, alleviating symptoms, and improving functioning as well as preventing years of future suffering.

Questions?

If you questions related to this course or content, please contact Dr. Ragan via email at jragan@mgh.harvard.edu

Pricing 

MDs/Doctoral-Level/Other Professionals: $199
Residents/Students/Trainees: $159 

Target Audience

This program is intended for: Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Social Workers, Primary care physicians, Nurses and Nurse Practitioners

Learning Objectives

At the end of this program, participants will be able to: 

• List 5 lesser-known subtypes of OCD
• Identify prevalence rates of these subtypes
• Describe questions to ask to properly distinguish OCD from another disorder
• Identify patients in their practices who suffer from these subtypes of OCD
• Discuss good treatment strategies for these subtypes

Cancellation Policy

Refunds may be issued up two weeks after registration. An administrative fee of $25.00 will be deducted from your refund. Please email us at mghcme@mgh.harvard.edu with questions or concerns.

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