Educational Resources
Below are resources and links for assessment, treatment, self help, and general education for OCD and SUD. Interested in tools specifically tailored to assessing OCD or SUD? Click here to access basic questions.
PRESENTATIONS
Navigating OCD in the world of 12 step Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Recovery
IOCDF Conference 2021
OCD and Substance Use Disorder
IOCDF Conference 2020
Please keep in mind, these are resources for assessment, treatment, self help, and general education for OCD and SUD. If you believe you are struggling with OCD or SUD, it is recommended you connect with professional support.
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- The IOCDF has a treatment locator on their website for OCD.
- The SAMHSA website has a treatment locator for Substance Use Disorder (SUD).
BOOKS
Books About Substance Use Disorder
The Wisdom to Know the Difference by Kelly Wilson, PhD, and Troy Dufrene
A Woman’s Way Through the Twelve Steps by Stephanie Covington, PhD
A Woman’s Way Through the Twelve Steps Workbook by Stephanie Covington, PhD
A Man’s Way Through the Twelve Steps by Dan Griffin, MA
Books About Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
The Mindfulness Workbook for OCD by Jon Hershfield, MFT, and Tom Corboy, MFT
Freedom from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder by Jonathan Grayson, PhD
The Perfectionist’s Handbook by Jeff Szymanski, PhD
ASSESSMENT
The following questions were developed for brief assessment in treatment settings. If, as an individual, you answer yes to these questions, you may consider seeking professional support. If you are a provider treating primary OCD or SUD, these are basic assessment questions that you could incorporate into your intake.
Assessing for OCD in SUD treatment:
SUD provider, here are some basic screening questions you could consider to rule in (or out) the likelihood of OCD:
- Do you have thoughts that make you anxious that you cannot get rid of, no matter how hard you try?
- Do you keep things extremely clean or wash your hands frequently?
- Do you check things to excess?
“Yes” answers to any of these questions would warrant further assessment for OCD. If it appears that OCD may be present, further assessment includes finding out more specific details of the patient’s obsessions and compulsions, including the level of distress associated with each and the degree to which symptoms are getting in the way of functioning.
Assessing for SUD in OCD treatment: OCD therapist, you should consider adding the following questions to your assessment to determine the possibility of a co-occurring SUD:
- How many times in the past year have you used an illegal drug or used a prescription medication for non-medical reasons?
- In the last year, have you ever drunk or used drugs more than you meant to?
“Yes” answers to either of these questions would warrant further assessment for SUD. Substances used, current, past, along with amount used and how often.
PLEASE NOTE: ALCOHOL DETOX CAN BE BE A LIFE THREATENING MEDICAL EMERGENCY AND MEDICAL EVALUATION FOR DETOX IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Please keep in mind, these are resources for assessment, treatment, self help, and general education for OCD and SUD. If you believe you are struggling with OCD or SUD, it is recommended you connect with professional support.
The IOCDF (see helpful links page) has a treatment locator on their website for OCD.
The SAMHSA website (see helpful links page) has a treatment locator for Substance Use Disorder (SUD).
ARTICLES
SAMHSA Advisory on OCD and SUD
Dear Sponsor Letter
