Unwanted intrusive thoughts? Repeated checking? "Just-right" rituals?
This short paid screening helps you understand whether your symptoms match common OCD patterns — and what to do next.
This is a screening tool, not a diagnosis. If results suggest higher likelihood or high impact, we'll recommend a full assessment with a qualified clinician.
OCD in Ireland — The Reality
OCD affects around 1 in 40 adults in Ireland. Many go undiagnosed because the symptoms don't match what people expect OCD to look like.
Unwanted, distressing thoughts, images or impulses that appear suddenly and feel impossible to dismiss — often about harm, contamination or taboo topics.
Checking locks, appliances, messages or actions repeatedly — even after already checking — because the anxiety of uncertainty won't settle.
Intense fear of germs, illness or contamination — leading to excessive hand-washing, avoiding surfaces, or elaborate cleaning routines that feel impossible to stop.
Arranging, ordering, or repeating actions until they feel "exactly right" — driven not by logic but by an overwhelming sense that something is off or incomplete.
Repeatedly asking others — or yourself — for reassurance that something is safe, correct or "okay." The relief is always brief, and the urge returns stronger each time.
Internal compulsions like counting, praying, repeating phrases, or mentally reviewing events — invisible to others but just as exhausting and time-consuming.
An intrusive thought, image or urge enters your mind
The thought causes significant anxiety and distress
A ritual or behaviour is performed to reduce the anxiety
Anxiety drops briefly — but the cycle repeats, often stronger
OCD is not about being neat or organised. It's a cycle of intrusive thoughts (obsessions) that cause intense anxiety, followed by compulsive behaviours or mental rituals performed to relieve that anxiety.
The problem is that the relief is always temporary. Each time you perform a compulsion, the OCD cycle gets reinforced — making the obsessions return faster and the compulsions more elaborate over time.
This is why early identification matters. The sooner you understand the pattern, the sooner you can begin to break it.
Three simple steps from screening to support. Private, online, and entirely at your own pace.
18 multiple-choice questions covering intrusive thoughts, compulsive behaviours, and daily impact. Takes around 10 minutes. Private and confidential.
Receive your score instantly with a full section breakdown, severity indication, and clear interpretation of what your results mean.
Follow your personalised recommendation — whether that's a free consultation, a full clinical assessment, or a structured therapy programme with an OCD specialist.
Takes approximately 10 minutes. Results are private & confidential.
Therapy covered by leading Irish health insurers
OCD is not about being "too clean" — it's a cycle of intrusive thoughts and compulsive responses that can take over hours of your day.
An unwanted intrusive thought, image, or urge enters your mind and causes significant distress. Despite knowing the thought is irrational, it feels urgent and impossible to dismiss. This is the starting point of the OCD cycle — and it's not your fault.
The intrusive thought generates intense anxiety. It feels real, overwhelming, and impossible to sit with. The discomfort is genuine — and it's this spike that drives the compulsion. People with OCD experience this loop dozens of times a day.
A behaviour or mental ritual is performed to reduce the anxiety — checking, washing, counting, seeking reassurance, or mentally reviewing events. It brings brief relief, but the cycle repeats — and over time compulsions tend to become more elaborate and time-consuming.
CBT combined with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the gold-standard treatment for OCD. It works by gradually learning to tolerate the anxiety without performing the compulsion — breaking the reinforcement loop and rewiring the threat response over time.
Our evidence-based approach addresses OCD and its underlying patterns for lasting recovery.
Everyone starts with the pre-screening. Your results will determine your recommended next step.
Not sure where to start? Talk to a Fettle specialist about your symptoms with no pressure or commitment.
10-minute validated screening. Identifies OCD-like patterns across thoughts, behaviours and daily impact. Instant results.
In-depth clinician-led interview with a formal written OCD diagnosis and personalised treatment plan. Recommended based on your pre-screening results.
Complete the pre-screening first — your results will determine if this is recommended.
Structured CBT & ERP with a dedicated OCD-specialist therapist. Matched within 24–72 hours. Insurance eligible.
Available after your clinical assessment is complete.
Have questions about OCD assessment? We have answers.
No. This is a validated screening tool that estimates the likelihood and impact of OCD-like patterns. A formal diagnosis requires a full clinical assessment with a qualified clinician — which Fettle can also provide.
OCD involves a specific cycle of intrusive thoughts (obsessions) followed by compulsive behaviours or mental rituals designed to reduce anxiety. While anxiety is part of OCD, the key defining feature is this obsession-compulsion loop — and the treatment approach is quite different.
Yes — OCD is highly treatable. CBT with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is effective for up to 80% of people. Fettle has OCD-specialist therapists available online within 24–72 hours. The key is getting the right diagnosis and matched to the right therapist.
Disturbing intrusive thoughts are one of the most distressing and misunderstood aspects of OCD. The content of OCD thoughts is often ego-dystonic — completely at odds with your values. Many people suffer in silence for years because they're ashamed of their thoughts. You are not your thoughts, and OCD is not a character flaw.
About 10 minutes. 18 multiple-choice questions covering intrusive thoughts, repetitive behaviours, and daily impact. You get your score, section breakdown, and recommended next step instantly.
Yes. All Fettle therapy is private, confidential, and completely non-judgmental. Your data is GDPR-compliant, encrypted, and never shared without your consent. You can speak openly about your symptoms without fear of judgment.
No — you can access the OCD screening, full clinical assessment, and therapy directly through Fettle without any GP referral. We're a fully online service available 7 days a week.
Yes — OCD therapy with Fettle is eligible for reimbursement through VHI, Laya Healthcare, and Irish Life Health. We'll provide all the necessary documentation. It's worth checking your specific policy details with your insurer.
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