Who it is for
Adults with unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images or urges that cause distress — about contamination, harm, order, morality, relationships, religion — and with repeated actions or mental rituals meant to neutralise them: checking, washing, counting, repeating, seeking reassurance. Many people hide their OCD out of shame, or have been told it is “just anxiety” or “just a habit”. OCD is a distinct condition, and it has a specific treatment.
How the assessment works
Dr Szigeti
What the obsessions are about, what the compulsions are, how much time they take and how much they cost you; the difference between OCD and ordinary worry, tics, perfectionism or other conditions; and what else is present, because depression often follows years of OCD. Nothing you tell me will shock me, and intrusive thoughts are not wishes: having them says nothing about who you are.
Validated measures such as the Y-BOCS give a baseline to measure change against; the diagnosis is made against DSM-5-TR and ICD-11 criteria. Before you meet, you complete the Pre-Assessment Form at home: it saves time during the appointment and helps Dr Szigeti tailor your care from the first meeting. Return it by hand when you meet or through the encrypted upload link we send you, never by email or WhatsApp. The appointment can be in person or by secure video.
Treatment options
- Medication. Medicines that are effective in OCD, chosen with you. In OCD they often need a higher dose and a longer trial than in depression — eight to twelve weeks to judge the effect — and there are further options when the first is not enough, always reviewed in thirty-minute follow-ups.
- The people around you. How partners and family can support you without feeding the compulsions, especially the requests for reassurance.
- Exposure and response prevention (ERP), alongside. A form of cognitive behavioural therapy — facing what triggers the obsession, step by step, without performing the ritual — that can strengthen the effect of treatment, especially in moderate to severe OCD. Dr Szigeti does not provide it himself; where he thinks it would help, he refers you to a psychologist or therapist trained in ERP and works alongside them.
All treatment options are discussed with you before anything is prescribed or started, including their risks and benefits.
Fees
| Appointment | Fee |
|---|---|
| Psychiatric assessment, one hour | €500 |
| Follow-up appointment, thirty minutes | €180 |
Laya Healthcare, Vhi, Irish Life and other insurers may cover part of the cost. Fees and insurance