Obsessive Compulsive Disorder FAQs
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a disorder that involves the individual experiencing uncontrollable and recurring thoughts (obsessions) and engaging in repetitive behaviors (compulsions), or both. Individuals with OCD have time-consuming symptoms that begin to cause significant distress or interfere with daily life.
Obsessions include repeated thoughts or images that are intrusive. Unwanted, and can make the person feel anxious. These obsessions center around germs or contamination, fear of forgetting or losing something, fear of losing control over behavior, unwanted or taboo thoughts about sex or religion, and desire to have things symmetrical or in “perfect order.”
Compulsions are repetitive behaviors the individual feels the urge to do, usually in response to the obsession. These behaviors include excessive cleaning or handwashing, and ordering things in a precise way. Repeatedly checking things such as the door or light, compulsive counting, praying, or repeating words silently. Individuals with OCD don’t get pleasure from their compulsions but rather experience temporary relief from their anxiety.
How is OCD treated?
OCD can be treated with psychotherapy (talk therapy) through a variety of methods including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). Talk therapy in conjunction with medications can be an effective means of managing the OCD thought process, and better enable a patient to manage their lives. The most common medications used are selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) which can be prescribed by a psychiatrist.
What is Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy?
Exposure Therapy (ERP) is a treatment method that was developed to help individuals confront the anxiety or fear inducing situation by exposing the individual to the situation. Exposure therapy has shown success when dealing with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder as well as Anxiety disorders. The individual is gradually exposed to the fear inducing situation slowly, with help from a trained therapist to guide the individual through the process. The exposure begins by talking about situations or objects that cause the person to avoid the situation, and creating a change plan for coping skills to practice before exposing themselves to real life situations. By doing this process over time, the individual may begin to feel more comfortable or less stressed when having to deal with the fear inducing object.
Resources
Psychiatrists Referral for medications – https://www.alpine-psych.com/
NIMH information on OCD – https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd#:~:text=Obsessive%2Dcompulsive%20disorder%20(OCD),or%20interfere%20with%20daily%20life.
Exposure Therapy – https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/patients-and-families/exposure-therapy