Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is the fourth most common psychiatric illness and among the most debilitating. Despite this, it is often neglected and carries a lot of stigma.

Dr Tobias Hauser and his team investigate why OCD mostly emerges during adolescence, and how brain development contributes to OCD. A challenge that Dr Hauser and his team have identified in their work, is that there is often a gap in understanding between what people living with OCD are experiencing, and what the latest research is focusing on.

The project aims to identify and address this knowledge gap. It was designed in collaboration with lived experts and in partnership with OCD Action and the International OCD Foundation (iOCDF).

The aims of this project are to:

1. Better understand how young people (YP) living with OCD and their parents/guardians view the brain’s role in OCD
2. Co-produce effective toolkits for parents/guardians and YP living with OCD to understand the neural mechanisms of OCD
3. Align our research to the need of those affected through stronger engagement with the OCD community

The project will have three distinct phases:

• Creative Workshops: A series of explorative workshops will create opportunities to share ideas and experiences between young people living with OCD, their parents/guardians and researchers.
• Toolkit Co-production: Based on insights from the workshops, the team will the work closely with lived experts to co-develop two digital toolkits that will provide support and share the most up to date information and understanding with those living with OCD and their parents/guardians.
• Toolkit Dissemination: The finalised toolkits will be freely available online through an engaging and interactive website comprised of both creative animations and explainer videos. This will be widely disseminated via our partners’ platforms, both nationally (OCD Action) and internationally (iOCDF). It will be embedded within existing support services and promoted by the charity support teams, and will be accompanied by a social media campaign.

The target audience for this project are young people living with OCD aged 16-21 years old, and parents/guardians of those affected.