Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a chronic mental health condition characterized by:

Obsessions: Recurrent, unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that cause anxiety.

Compulsions: Repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to reduce the anxiety caused by obsessions.

These cycles can interfere significantly with daily life, relationships, and work or school.

🧠 WHAT IS OCD?

OCD is not just about cleanliness or organization—it’s about distressing thoughts that drive rigid rituals.

Example:

Obsession: "My hands are contaminated."

compulsion: Washing hands 30+ times to feel “safe.”

🔁 COMMON TYPES OF OCD

Type Obsession Theme Compulsive Behavior

Contamination Germs, dirt, illness Excessive washing/cleaning

Doubt & Checking Safety concerns Repeated checking (locks, stove)

Order & Symmetry Needing exactness Arranging until “just right”

Unwanted Thoughts Aggressive, sexual, or blasphemous images Mental rituals, avoidance

Hoarding Fear of losing important items Inability to discard things

🧪 DIAGNOSIS

Clinical interview using DSM-5 criteria

Symptoms must be:

Time-consuming (1+ hour/day)

Cause distress or impair functioning

Often assessed with tools like:

Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS)

💊 TREATMENTS FOR OCD

1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Gold standard treatment

Specifically: Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)

Gradual exposure to feared situations while resisting the compulsion

Example: Touching a “contaminated” object without washing hands

Highly effective in 60–80% of cases

2. Medications

Type Examples Notes

SSRIs (first-line) Fluoxetine, Sertraline, Fluvoxamine, Paroxetine Often require higher doses than for depression

Clomipramine (TCA) Older, effective More side effects

Augmentation Antipsychotics (e.g., Risperidone) For treatment-resistant OCD

🔄 Takes 8–12 weeks to see full effect

3. Combined Therapy

Medication + ERP often provides the best outcomes for moderate to severe OCD

. Advanced Options (Severe/Refractory Cases)

Treatment Description

rTMS (Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) FDA-approved for OCD

DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation) Used in rare, severe cases

Intensive outpatient programs (IOP) Structured multi-hour daily treatment

Inpatient care When safety or functioning is severely compromised

5. Lifestyle Support

Mindfulness and stress-reduction techniques

Family education and support

Avoid reassurance-seeking behaviors

Support groups can reduce isolation

🩺 PROGNOSIS

OCD is treatable and manageable

Early, consistent treatment improves outcomes

Relapses can happen, but symptoms often reduce in severity over time