title: Obsessive-compulsive disorder--the role of the GP.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental illness that causes high levels of morbidity and is commonly associated with long delays between onset of symptoms and access to diagnosis and treatment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To address some of the key clinical questions about detecting and managing OCD from the general practice perspective.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  General practitioners play a crucial role in recognising OCD, in facilitating timely access to evidence-based therapies and providing ongoing follow-up and support. Exposure and response prevention, and selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors have the strongest evidence for efficacy in patients with OCD.
authors.affiliation: MBBS, FRACGP is Lecturer, Department of General Practice, The University of Melbourne, Victoria.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blair-West
mesh_terms: D058006:General Practice; D006801:Humans; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D010819:Physician's Role; D012017:Referral and Consultation