Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Treatment

Understanding OCD: Expert Insights with Dr. Anant Agarwal

💡​KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. OCD treatment options include such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Exposure and Response Prevention, and medications.
2. Deep TMS is a newer treatment option for serious cases with OCD.
3. Approximately 70-80% of the patients suffering from OCD improve with a combination of therapy and medicine.

What Is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?

1. Obsessions are scary thoughts or worries that keep coming back and make someone feel anxious or upset.
2. Compulsions are actions people feel like they must do to stop their fears or worries. For example, they might wash their hands many times to avoid germs.

What Are the Causes and Risk Factors of OCD

Though scientists cannot say what exactly causes OCD, they can however suggest what goes into it. Here are a few theories that:

1. Biological Factors Research has shown that some regions of the brain, such as the orbital gyrus and caudate nucleus, operate differently in people with OCD. Unfortunately, we cannot explain how these variations may culminate in OCD.
2. PANDAS (Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections) There are situations though rare in nature in which some children may suffer from OCD due to a history of strep throat infection. Strep Excitocia is one of the medical conditions which may lead to OCD-like symptoms.
3. Genetic Factors There are times when OCD is familial, meaning when one family member suffers from it, it is possible other members could suffer from it also. However, scientists have not identified any gene that can lead to such behavior.
4. Chemical Imbalance It’s simple, disorders may be related to stress or an imbalance of serotonin within the critical periods for functioning and expression of the compulsive traits. Doctors include drugs like SSRIs when treating people with OCD, however, none of us knows whether this serotonin imbalance is an aetiological factor or not.
5. Theories of Psychology It is further stated in the Learning theory that OCD is a certain behavior that a person acquires after undergoing stress or trauma. Cognitive Therapy in a way makes a remote cognition disturb feelings of guilt amongst those with OCD and acts for some reason to ease that anxiety.
6. Epidemiology A subgroup of patients with OCD suffers from depression. The narrative doesn’t so much influence the presentation of OCD, and the presence or absence of depression doesn’t influence so much the risk of developing OCD.

Diagnosis of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

One of the most common questions we receive is, "Does this sound like OCD?" While we can't diagnose OCD. We can help explain how a diagnosis is made.

OCD typically involves obsessions and compulsions. These lead to anxiety and temporary relief, but the cycle repeats. Healthcare professionals will assess how much OCD impacts daily life.

Key things for diagnosis include:

1. Obsessions or compulsions that cause significant distress or interfere with daily life.
2. The person must recognize their thoughts and actions are excessive.
3. Symptoms should last more than an hour a day.

Professionals may ask questions such as:



4. Do you wash or clean a lot?
5. Do you check things frequently?
6. Do certain thoughts bother you that you can't stop?

📝 An OCD diagnosis often requires meeting these criteria, with an assessment lasting about an hour.

Types of Treatment for OCD

Obsessive compulsive disorder treatements are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and medication.

CBT combined with ERP helps patient face their fears without doing compulsive actions. A patient gradually deals with their worries, and over time, their anxiety gets better. Patients with mild OCD may need around 8 to 20 therapy sessions. But, more serious cases may need longer treatment.

If therapy isn't enough, doctors may prescribe Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). These medicines help balance chemicals in the brain and can reduce OCD symptoms. It might take several weeks to feel the benefits, and some people may need to take the medicine for a year or more.

For very severe OCD that doesn’t improve with regular therapy or medicine, there are stronger treatments like intensive outpatient programs, day programs, or residential care. There’s also a new treatment called Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (Deep TMS), which uses magnets to target areas in the brain related to OCD.

Combining therapy and medication works best for most people, and about 70% of people with OCD improve with these treatments. It’s important to work with a doctor to find the right treatment for you.

Steps of the OCD Treatment Process

Here are the steps of the OCD treatment process:

1. Initial Assessment and Admission : All the stages of the process begin with the evaluation of the patient’s mental and physical state. This helps in coming up with a treatment plan that caters to the patient’s requirements.
2. Inpatient and Outpatient Care Options : In such cases, the patient may wish to select inpatient care. There is, however, an outpatient program for those patients who want to get treatment but continue with their daily routine.
3. Follow-Up and Aftercare : To help ensure a successful outcome, ongoing therapy and medication management are also required. Aftercare programs promote the factors that will help avoid the chances of relapse and encourage complete recovery.

Effective Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Treatment Approaches

There are various ways to treat Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The most common methods include therapy and medication.