OCD is a situation where people experience unwelcome and disturbing thoughts. Sometimes OCD sufferers feel pressure or compulsion to carry out certain actions /compulsions. Some people suffering from OCD also have motor or vocal “tics. Treatment for OCD is often the best way to solve the problem. Although there are no treatments for OCD to be found yet there may have been a cure. Psychologically, cognitive behavioral therapy is a very useful method to treat OCD symptoms.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is by far the most effective treatment for OCD, with numerous scientific research studies backing up CBT for OCD. CBT is a brief treatment designed to teach people different ways of thinking, behaving, and reacting to challenging situations. CBT works by addressing the cognitive, behavioral, and emotional components of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). CBT is effective in reducing anxiety and dread without having obsessional thoughts or engaging compulsively. Exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy is one form of treatment that is particularly beneficial for decreasing compulsive actions in OCD.
What is obsessive-compulsive disorder?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common chronic anxiety problem, which involves both obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are intrusive thoughts or fears that occur over and over again in the mind, causing high levels of distress. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors that people feel compelled to complete in response to an obsession, even though they are usually recognized as unsensible. Some common obsessions include fear of illness, paranoia, excessive doubt or worry about something bad happening, irrational thoughts about needing to have things in a certain order or perfect symmetry.
Mental health disorders or mental illnesses are medical conditions that impact mental function, thinking, mood, and behavior. Many people with OCD experience other co-occurring (co-morbid) disorders such as social phobia, generalized anxiety disorders (GAD), body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), depression, eating disorders, tics, or Tourette Syndrome.
OCD Symptoms
The most common signs and symptoms in adults with OCD are Recurrent, persistent, intrusive, and obsessive thoughts, impulses, or images (obsessions) that cause marked anxiety or distress. A mental disorder associated with repetitive, intrusive, and irrelevant worries about contamination is common. The fears may be focused on real-life problems such as a concern with dirtiness or germs. They can also be more abstract, including concerns about being injured by an unknown force.
Untreated OCD symptoms affect people’s lives. Especially young adults that have OCD had lower GPAs, were unemployed more often, and earn less money. They may try to cope with OCD symptoms by avoiding people, places, things, or situations that trigger obsessions or anxieties; this can lead to isolation and limitations on the person’s life.
Also, Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infection (PANDAS) is a medical model that suggests that OCD symptoms are caused by over-stimulation of the immune system, following strep infections.
If you know someone who has OCD, it can be difficult to understand what they are going through. People who experience OCD usually feel ashamed, they often hide it from family, friends, and even doctors. It is important to realize that OCD may cause anxiety but not everyone with the disorder has noticeable symptoms of anxiety.
OCD diagnosis
Doctors look at the pattern of a person’s symptoms, and whether their thoughts and behaviors are impacting daily life. There is no specific blood test or brain scan to diagnose OCD; diagnosing OCD can only be done by clinical interview.
The principal diagnosis for OCD is either obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or an anxiety disorder not otherwise specified (NOS).
Causes and risk factors of OCD
The causes of OCD are not known, but current research suggests that it’s caused by a combination of biological and environmental factors. OCD is related to differences in brain function and the immune system.
Risk Factors regarding OCD
Peer-reviewed studies have shown that the risk factors associated with the onset of OCD are increased in individuals who have a family history of OCD or other anxiety disorders, childhood trauma, and periods of high stress.
OCD Treatment and Therapies
Obsessive-compulsive disorder medication therapy is the main therapy for OCD. The most effective medications are antidepressants, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Examples of SSRIs used to treat OCD include fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), and others.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
SSRIs will increase the amount of serotonin in the brain. Studies show about 70% of people who take SSRIs experience a significant reduction in OCD symptoms. People often notice an improvement in symptoms within two to eight weeks after starting drug treatment, but it may take longer for others.
Each medication has potential side effects that may include decreased sexual desire, nausea, tiredness, and sleep disturbance. Psychiatrists might also prescribe clomipramine (Anafranil), a drug that is most commonly used for OCD in people who do not respond to SSRIs.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for reducing OCD symptoms usually lasts between 16 and 20 sessions, and typically involves some combination of the following CBT interventions:
Cognitive Restructuring
Cognitive restructuring is a treatment that involves learning to recognize unhealthy thought patterns and replacing them with more helpful ways of thinking about things. With OCD, cognitive restructuring is used specifically to reduce fear-inducing assumptions about obsessions or compulsions.
Exposure Response Prevention Therapy
Exposure is a scientific approach for addressing our fears and anxiety that may be triggered. Nerve cells get activated when we feel fear or anxiety. The first step involves the creation of a hierarchy of anxiety-provoking situations, arranged from least distressing to most distressing. Treatment begins by tackling the least distressing situation and then moving on to the next situation once the previous one no longer produces anxiety.
Mindfulness Training
Mindfulness refers to being in touch with one’s present situation, rather than being caught up in thoughts about the situation. It is a technique used in OCD to help people get unhooked from overwhelming false assumptions about obsessions and to reconnect to the present moment.
Some other related treatment approaches/ treatment plans and therapies include:
Habit Reversal Training
Habit reversal training helps people with OCD face their fears without having to use compulsive behaviors. This helps the person gradually learn how to tolerate feelings of anxiety or discomfort, while also learning more effective ways of coping. Through this process, the brain learns new patterns of responding to uncomfortable thoughts and sensations.
Stress management techniques
Stress can be a trigger for OCD symptoms, so these techniques may be helpful which would include yoga, meditation, qi gong, and other relaxation techniques.
Compulsive Rituals
Compulsive ritual is a preventive measure to reduce the level of anxiety, fear, and discomfort. OCD compulsions are repetitive, irrational behaviors that temporarily ease the disturbing feelings associated with OCD. People with these symptoms engage in compulsions to help control their anxiety-producing obsessions.
Behavioral Therapy
Behavioral therapies are often used to address OCD, particularly when it’s related to other conditions such as tics or Tourette syndrome. Exposure with response prevention is the main type of behavioral therapy that helps reduce OCD symptoms.
Electroconvulsive Therapy
ECT, or electroconvulsive therapy as commonly referred to, is a treatment for severe depression that involves passing small electrical currents through the brain. Electrical Impulses interact with the brain’s chemical environment to provide relief from these symptoms. Also, Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is a treatment that uses electrical stimulation of the brain, with small wires placed under the skin on the chest or abdomen.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, TMS
This type of non-invasive treatment uses a magnetic field and magnetic pulse/pulses of electricity to stimulate specific parts of the brain. It’s used in some mental health conditions to either stimulate or suppress brain function.
Talk therapy
Mental health professionals may recommend certain types of psychotherapy. Therapists may use various modalities for treating OCD including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure and response prevention (ERP).
Group Therapy
Group therapy combines the support of group members with the insights that come from psychoeducation and other treatments by professionals. Group therapy helps participants feel less isolated and alone.
Support Group
Support groups help those with OCD by providing social support from others who are facing the same challenges. Also under the proper medication of a healthcare professional /healthcare provider, many with OCD find relief from symptoms.
The National Institute of Mental Health introduces an Intensive Outpatient Program for OCD. Ongoing research has shown that these programs can help reduce the anxiety and compulsive behavior that comes with obsessive-compulsive disorder while also helping to improve both qualities of life and work productivity.
Also, American Psychiatric Association has stated that a type of treatment called Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is often effective for this disorder. CBT helps a person identify and change thinking patterns and behaviors that keep the problem going.
Lifestyle and Medications
Certain lifestyle changes and medications can help people with OCD manage their symptoms.
Antidepressant medications can help relieve both obsessions and compulsions. Some FDA-approved antidepressants include citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, and sertraline. Other antidepressant medications include clomipramine(Anafranil), duloxetine (Cymbalta), venlafaxine (Effexor XR).
Also, a healthy and balanced lifestyle is very important in the management of OCD.
Exercise
Physical activity can reduce stress and anxiety and also improve sleep patterns. Losing weight is another effective way to manage and control symptoms, as having extra weight may increase stress levels that worsen your condition.
***
What is the best way to treat OCD?
However, many people with OCD find relief from symptoms through behavioral therapies, such as exposure and response prevention (ERP), or antidepressant medications. It’s important to work with a mental health professional to find the best treatment for OCD symptoms.
Can you self-treat OCD?
While there are many helpful treatments for OCD, it’s important to work with a mental health professional to find the best treatment plan for you.
What are 3 treatments for OCD?
The three treatments of OCD include:
- TMS: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive treatment that uses magnetic pulses of electricity to stimulate the brain.
- CBT: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a type of talk therapy that helps people change thinking and behavior patterns. CBT has been shown to be helpful in treating OCD.
- ERP: Exposure and response prevention are the main components of ERP therapy for OCD. It involves encouraging people to face their fears while not performing ritualistic behaviors. Antidepressant medications are used along with ERPs to help relieve both obsessions and compulsions.
Can OCD be cured?
OCD is not curable, but it can be managed with the right treatments. The best way to treat OCD is by combining medication, talk therapy, and lifestyle changes to find a treatment plan that works for you.
What are typical symptoms of OCD?
The following are some common obsessions and compulsions typical among people who have obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Common Obsessions:
- Fear of germs and contamination
- Intrusive thoughts about violence or sex
- Constant mental reviewing of daily events, sometimes called “mental checking”
Common compulsions:
- Washing and cleaning to get rid of germs or feel “just right.”
- Checking locks, appliances, and doors to make sure they are off or safe.
- Counting, alphabetizing, or organizing things in a specific way.
- Mental rituals such as praying, repeating phrases, or mentally checking to make sure things are “just right.”
