Seacole ward features on Radio 4’s All in the Mind
Last month, we welcomed presenter Claudia Hammond and producer Gerry Holt from BBC Radio 4’s All in the Mind to Seacole ward at Springfield Hospital. The team recorded a special episode exploring obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and how it is treated.
Seacole ward is our specialist inpatient service for adults with severe OCD. Led by Dr Ilenia Pampaoni, it is the only service of its kind in the UK.
OCD is a common mental health condition involving unwanted, intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviours. While some people experience mild symptoms, for others it can have a profound impact on daily life.
To help listeners better understand OCD, Claudia spoke with two former patients, Albert and Emily (names have been changed to protect their identities).
Albert’s story
Albert described experiencing intrusive sexual thoughts about children that were deeply distressing and completely at odds with his values.
“It completely stopped my life. I wouldn’t leave my room. I’d be content to feel nothing at all than the constant guilt and anxiety. The thoughts were what Dr Pampaloni calls ‘ego-dystonic’ – they are the opposite of your values and what you want, and they come to you because they are do distressing.”
He explained how his OCD led to repeated reassurance-seeking:
“I’d always seek reassurance from my mum. We had a script she had to follow – telling me I was okay and not a bad person. It was the only way the anxiety would go down. It could take hours, several times a day, even during the night.”
Albert also shared the fear and isolation he experienced: “I was worried I’d be arrested for having these thoughts, and that I’d be a complete social pariah.”
Emily’s story
Emily spent seven months receiving treatment on Seacole ward. She described how therapy helped her gradually face her fears: “Everyone here has a personalised list of exposures – things we agree to do to challenge our OCD.”
For Emily, whose OCD centred on fears of harm coming to loved ones, this meant confronting those fears directly:
“The opposite of my fear was intentionally wishing harm on my family members. At first, that felt horrific. But over time, it helped me realise that thoughts don’t cause harm.”
“If you’d told me a year ago I’d be able to say those things without overwhelming anxiety, I wouldn’t have believed you.”
Dr Ilenia Pampaloni said: “I hope that anyone listening who recognises these experiences feels able to reach out for help. In most cases, OCD can be treated successfully in the community. It’s a health condition – not a person’s fault – and help is available.”
Listen to the programme
You can listen to the full episode on the BBC Sounds app: All in the Mind – Overcoming OCD
Find out more about OCD, including the symptoms and treatment, on the NHS website.
