Mapping the neurocomputational landscape of obsessive-compulsive disorder

To date there is little accessible and relatable information about the neuroscience of OCD for those affected, especially for those who could benefit from this information the most: young people and their parents at early stages of the illness. This project, designed in collaborative working group sessions with lived experts and in partnership with OCD Action and the International OCD Foundation, will overcome the prevailing disconnect between neuroscience research and the OCD community through a co-productive and explorative practice.

By the end of this project we will have:

Built two engaging digital toolkits – one for young people (YP) with OCD, and one for their parents – that will bridge the gap between neuroscience and the personal experiences of those affected by OCD.

Tailored our toolkits to the needs of our target audience and shaped future research proposals in collaboration with patients/carers/charities through a series of ‘hypothesis exchange’ workshops.

Established a strong relationship between key community gatekeepers/lived experts and the research team.

Embedded resources developed into existing support networks in the UK and internationally through partnerships with OCD Action (UK’s largest OCD charity) and International OCD Foundation (largest international OCD organisation).

Our vision is that these toolkits will help establish an understanding that OCD is a brain illness that can be treated. By creating engaging, interactive toolkits for YP with OCD and parents, we will challenge misconceptions of OCD and provide vital resources identified (by both our working group and partner charities) as a gap in OCD support.