OCD: An Insider's Perspective

At 12-years-old, Elizabeth McIngvale, PhD, LCSW, was diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). By age 17, she found success in evidence-based treatment at Menninger and became a national spokesperson for patients. Now, 20 years later, she treats OCD patients of her own, while still advocating to end stigma and misconceptions about OCD and perfectionism. 

 

Dive into this episode of The Menninger Clinic’s Mind Dive podcast for an expert’s insider journey of OCD. Also explored are the contrasts of OCD and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) and how doctors can improve patient treatment by recognizing and acknowledging the differences. 

 

Elizabeth McIngvale, PhD, LCSW, is the director of McLean OCD Institute at Houston. She currently serves on the faculty at Harvard Medical School and founded the Peace of Mind Foundation and OCDChallenge.com, both now within the International OCD Foundation.

 

“My message to patients is that we are going to get them back to functioning, but we should really be fighting for freedom from their illness,” said Dr. McIngvale. “We are fighting to get them to a life where they can make decisions for themselves and live by their values, not their diagnosis.”

 

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