A new eye test is being developed to diagnose obsessive compulsive disorder by researchers at Aberdeen University.

This could be the first test used in routine clinical psychiatric practice to assist with the diagnosis of OCD.

The team, based at Cornhill Hospital in Aberdeen, are looking for patients aged between 18 and 60 who have been diagnosed with OCD to participate in the research.

Volunteers would be asked to complete questionnaires and participate in non-invasive tasks such as looking at pictures and following dots on a computer screen.

Dr Phillip Benson, who leads the research, said: "In contrast to all other branches of medicine there are no definitive objective tests could distinguish major psychiatric disorders from each other.

"We hope that by developing this test it would not only improve diagnosis and the clinician's choice of treatment it, it would also lead to substantial savings to the NHS and society as a whole."

He added: "We are very keen to recruit patients with OCD so that we can further this research and ask that anyone who feels they could participate could contact us.

"This is part of a wider study that is investigating the use of eye-tracking tests to diagnose a range of mental health disorders including schizophrenia, bipolar and major depression."