In Episode 3 of Leafing Through Science, host Hedi Young sits down with David Adam – science writer and author of the Sunday Times bestseller The Man Who Couldn't Stop: The Truth About OCD – to explore the strange and unrelenting world of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

What drives someone to fear their own thoughts, or an Ethiopian schoolgirl to eat the wall of her house, bit by bit? Why do millions of us get stuck in loops of doubt and dread? And what does it mean to have a brain that simply won’t let go?

Drawing on decades of personal experience, David reveals the hidden mechanics of OCD – from the weird thoughts that exist within us all, to the condition’s so-called “patient zero”, white bears and Winston Churchill’s own battle with egodystonia. David traces the fine line between ordinary mental noise and debilitating compulsion and gives an unflinchingly honest account of his own struggles.

Along the way, their discussion challenges the very notion of what counts as “normal” thought, and reflects on the evolution of treatment – from crude lobotomies and cavalier surgeons to today’s more effective, evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

Every two weeks, the new podcast series Leafing Through Science brings together host Hedi Young, Champalimaud Foundation neuroscientist and science communicator, with the authors behind some of the most fascinating non-fiction books in the life sciences. From new releases to timeless classics, we explore everything from the mysteries of consciousness and free will, to alien hands and minds under siege. Expect page-turning ideas, head-spinning science, and stories that might just change how you see the world – and yourself.

🔗 Relevant links:

The Man Who Couldn't Stop: The Truth About OCD

More about David

Interview with Gonçalo Cotovio on Lesional OCD using TMS

Neuropsychiatry Unit at the Champalimaud Foundation

OCD-UK

International OCD Foundation

⏱️ Chapters:

(00:00) Teaser

(01:04) Intro

(02:36) What is OCD?

(04:22) Common Themes of Obsessions & Compulsions

(06:20) Everyone Has Intrusive Thoughts

(08:35) Why OCD Develops

(10:05) Egodystonic Thoughts

(12:34) The White Bear Phenomenon

(15:02) Inflated Responsibility

(18:01) David's Personal Journey with OCD

(21:10) Living Life on Autopilot

(24:10) Hitting Bottom

(26:02) Success with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

(30:03) Surgical Horrors

(31:43) PANDAS & TMS

(33:06) New Approach to OCD and Mental Illness

(35:50) Advice & Resources for Those Affected by OCD

🎙️ Episode Credits:

Creator & Series Producer: Hedi Young

Concept Development & Curation: Ana Rita Mendes, António Monteiro, Carla Emilie Pereira, Catarina Ramos, Diana Cadete, Hedi Young, João Van Zelst, John Lee, Marta Correia, Thaïs Lindemann and Teresa Fernandes

Host: Hedi Young Guest: David Adam

Graphic Design: Marta Correia

Sound Design: João Van Zelst

Dissemination: Ana Rita Mendes and Diana Cadete