Sources & Key Research — OCD

Statistics

Australian Bureau of Statistics (2023). National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing, 2020–2022. 3.6% of Australians aged 16 to 85 had OCD in the past 12 months. Read more.

Research

[1] Reid JE, et al. (2021). Cognitive behavioural therapy with exposure and response prevention in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Comprehensive Psychiatry. 36 trials (2,020 people): CBT with ERP had a large effect compared with control conditions, but no more than other active therapies, and the authors raised concerns about study quality and researcher bias. Read review

[2] Perin EA, et al. (2025). Mindfulness for obsessive-compulsive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry. Six trials (499 adults): mindfulness-based approaches did not differ significantly from CBT-based approaches in reducing OCD symptoms. Read review

[3] Pellegrini L, et al. (2025). Pooled frequency meta-analysis of family accommodation in OCD. Asian Journal of Psychiatry. 39 studies: family accommodation happened at least weekly in over 90% of cases, most often reassurance and waiting for rituals to finish. Read review

[4] McGrath CA, Abbott MJ (2019). Family-based psychological treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder in children and adolescents. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review. 37 studies (1,727 young people): family-based treatment reduced OCD symptoms and family accommodation. Read review

[5] Moreno FA, et al. (2026). A randomized clinical trial of repeated doses of psilocybin for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Journal of Psychopharmacology. 15 adults with OCD: psilocybin, but not an active placebo, reduced OCD symptoms; no serious adverse events were reported. Read study