OCD treatment, diagnosis & prescriptions

Yes. In some cases, a doctor will be able to help diagnose obsessive-compulsive disorder by performing a psychological evaluation. This involves discussing your feelings, symptoms and patterns of behaviour, which you believe to be interfering with your quality of life.

As well, the doctor may perform an OCD test, using the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), which is available through the American Psychiatric Association.

Because OCD shares symptoms with a number of other mental illnesses (i.e. depression, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders), it can sometimes be difficult to diagnose. Your doctor may suggest additional evaluations before recommending specific OCD treatments such as medications.

Yes, our physicians can prescribe medications online during your consultation. Once you accept a prescription, you’ll have the option to pick it up from any pharmacy or to have it delivered right to your door at no additional cost.

You can visit our How it Works page to learn more.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a type of mental illness.

Those affected could have obsessive thoughts or urges, or they may feel compelled to perform repetitive behaviours. In some cases, they may experience both obsessive and compulsive tendencies.
Those experiencing obsessions often have common themes, including:

• A need for things to be symmetrical or orderly
• Difficulty tolerating uncertainty or severe doubting
• Fear of dirt or contamination
• Unwanted thoughts involving sexual or religious subjects
• Aggressive thoughts about losing control and harming themselves or others

Those experiencing compulsions also have common themes, including:

• Counting while performing an action
• Washing and cleaning excessively
• Following a strict routine (where deviation from the routine causes severe anxiety)
• Fixation on maintaining orderliness
• Checking things repeatedly or frequently
• Regularly demanding reassurance

OCD symptoms vary from case to case, depending on whether you’re experiencing obsessive symptoms or compulsive symptoms. In some cases, OCD patients may experience symptoms from both categories.
Common obsessive symptoms include:

• Intense anxiety or stress when things are orderly or set in a certain way
• Unpleasant or aggressive sexual images
• Doubts about whether you’ve already performed an action (locking a door, turning off an appliance, etc)
• Fear of contamination when touching objects
• Thoughts of harming others
• Fantasizing about acting inappropriately in public

Common compulsive symptoms include:

• Arranging objects to all face the same direction or a very specific way
• Checking things repeatedly to ensure they are off/closed (doors, appliances, etc)
• Hand-washing to the point of damaging your skin
• Counting in specific patterns, sometimes uncontrollably
• Repeating a word or phrase either out loud or in your head

OCD causes aren’t fully understood at this time.

Some theories suggest that OCD could be caused by biology (brought on by natural changes in our body’s chemistry), genetics (symptoms could be brought on by a specific or mutated gene, possibly hereditary) or learning (developed over time from watched or learned habits).

However, although all of these potential causes could increase your chances of developing OCD symptoms, the specific physical causes have yet to be conclusively identified.

There are a few different risk factors of OCD, which could either cause someone to begin showing symptoms of OCD, or might trigger an existing condition to become more severe.

Stressful or traumatic life events are a common trigger for OCD symptoms. As well, having parents or family members with OCD, might make you genetically predisposed to developing the disorder.

In some cases, OCD could also be related to other mental health disorders, such as substance abuse, depression, anxiety disorders or tic disorders.

In order to perform a diagnosis, your doctor will most likely want to perform a psychological evaluation. This will help them evaluate your state of mind, your daily patterns of behaviour, as well as the symptoms that you’ve begun to experience.

As well, you may be given an OCD test, based on the criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).

There are two frequently used options for OCD treatment, medications and psychotherapy. In many cases, a combination of both of these is the most effective treatment.

However, OCD treatment may not result in a cure. Depending on the severity of your condition, you may require long-term, ongoing or intensive treatment.

Your doctor will make recommendations on the best course of action for you, once they’ve had a chance to do a full evaluation.

Maple is a virtual care platform that connects you with our network of Canadian-licensed doctors, nurse practitioners and specialists via secure text, audio or video call. Sign in to your Maple account to start a visit. Learn more about how Maple works here.

A visit works a lot like an in-person appointment. A doctor or nurse practitioner will ask about your symptoms, review your health history and recommend a treatment plan that's right for you. Not every visit leads to a prescription. Sometimes, you might need to see someone in person. When that happens, we'll help you figure out what comes next.

As a Maple member, you get 24/7 access to care online. Connect with our network of Canadian-licensed doctors and nurse practitioners in minutes via secure text, audio or video call.

Our membership costs $85/month. One membership. Care for your whole family. In eligible provinces, membership includes:

• Daily visits: one visit a day with a doctor or nurse practitioner for each family member in your household
• Pediatric care: covered pediatric primary care visits, available by appointment
• Second Medical Opinion: when you're unsure about a complex diagnosis, like cancer or MS, or want to understand all your options, you and your family can access an expert Second Medical Opinion
• Personal Health Check-Ins: personalized, evidence-based proactive care screenings to help you stay on top of your health
• iCBT courses: internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy self-assessments and courses
• Specialists: see a specialist in days, not months. No referral necessary.
• Specialist referrals: a referral to a physician specialist for in-person care, if needed

Membership can't be combined with other offerings, such as private insurance coverage and provincial programs, where available. A Healthcare Spending Account (HSA) may cover your membership fees. Check with your HSA provider for details.

Your Maple monthly membership covers virtual care for you, your spouse and your dependents under the age of 18 who share the same primary residence. Full disclaimer and refund policy here.

We accept all major credit cards, including AMEX, plus Google Pay and Apple Pay.

Privacy is at the core of how we deliver care. We follow Canadian privacy and healthcare laws, including PIPEDA and PHIPA, to protect your personal and health information.

Our policies and consent processes are simple and easy to understand, so you stay in control. Strong security infrastructure and strict data policies protect every session. You keep control of your personal health information, medical records and test results at all times. We also work with privacy and security experts and review our policies regularly.

All doctors and nurse practitioners who deliver care through Maple are licensed in Canada and governed by their regulatory colleges. They must follow the telemedicine policies set by the medical regulator in each province.

Regulators across Canada recognize the value of virtual care. It helps improve access to care for patients and makes care delivery more efficient for practitioners and Canada's healthcare system.