Treatment for OCD

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition where unwanted thoughts (obsessions) lead to the need for repetitive rituals or routines (compulsions) to reduce anxiety. Treatment for OCD can help manage these symptoms, as they can seriously disrupt daily life.

Common Symptoms of OCD

People with OCD are typically aware that their obsessions and compulsions are irrational, but they find it difficult to ignore them. They may attempt to resist the urge to perform compulsive behaviours or stop them altogether, which often leads to significant distress.

Obsessions: Persistent, intrusive, and unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that cause distress

Compulsions: Repetitive behaviours or mental acts that a person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession or according to rigid rules

Anxiety: Intense feelings of fear, discomfort, or unease related to obsessions

Time-consuming: The obsessions and compulsions take up a significant amount of time, typically more than an hour a day

Interference: The obsessions and compulsions significantly interfere with daily activities, work, school, or relationships

Distress: The obsessions and compulsions cause marked distress, anxiety, or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning

Insight: Most people with OCD are aware that their obsessions are not true, but this awareness does not reduce the distress or the urge to perform the compulsive behaviours

Avoidance: Some individuals may try to avoid situations that trigger their obsessions, which can lead to difficulties in functioning or social isolation

Need for reassurance: People with OCD may seek reassurance from others or engage in excessive checking to alleviate their anxiety

What you may not be aware of about
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder...

1

OCD affects ~3% of
Australians in their lifetime

2

People with OCD often
have other mental health
conditions

3

OCD typically begins in
adolescence but can start
as early as age 6 or 7, with
boys often experiencing it
earlier than girls

4

It is likely that a
combination of genetic and
environmental factors
contributes to the
development of OCD

What the research says
about treatment for OCD

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is more common than you might think. It’s a condition that affects people of all ages, from children to adults. OCD involves having unwanted, repetitive thoughts (obsessions) and feeling the need to do certain actions over and over again (compulsions) to try to get rid of those thoughts. These obsessions and compulsions can really get in the way of everyday life and cause a lot of stress and anxiety.

Let’s break it down a bit. Obsessions are persistent and unwanted thoughts, urges, or images that pop into your head and cause a lot of distress or anxiety. These might be fears of germs and contamination, worries about harm coming to yourself or others, or intrusive thoughts about taboo subjects. Compulsions are repetitive behaviours or mental acts that you feel driven to perform in response to an obsession. These might include washing your hands repeatedly, checking things like locks or appliances, counting, or repeating certain phrases.

The good news is that there are effective treatments available, backed by a lot of research. The top treatment for OCD is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) with something called exposure and response prevention (ERP) and medication, specifically Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) like fluoxetine (Prozac) or sertraline (Zoloft).

CBT is a type of therapy that helps you change the way you think and behave. With ERP, you gradually expose yourself to the things that trigger your obsessions and learn to resist the urge to perform your compulsions. It might sound a bit scary at first, but with the help of a trained therapist, it can be incredibly effective. SSRIs, on the other hand, are a type of antidepressant that can help by balancing the levels of serotonin in your brain, which can reduce the symptoms of OCD.

But that’s not all! There’s also some exciting research into other treatments for OCD. For example, Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is a treatment that involves implanting electrodes in the brain to help regulate abnormal brain activity. It’s still pretty new and mainly used for cases where nothing else seems to work, but the early results are promising. There’s also Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), which uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain. Like DBS, more research is needed to fully understand how effective and safe these treatments are in the long run.

If you or someone you know is dealing with OCD, it’s really important to reach out to a mental health professional. OCD can be tough to manage on your own, but with the right support and treatment, it’s definitely possible to reduce the symptoms and live a fulfilling life. Remember, you’re not alone, and help is available.

So, there you have it! OCD is a challenging condition, but with effective treatments like CBT and SSRIs, and emerging therapies like DBS and TMS, there’s a lot of hope. If you’re struggling, don’t hesitate to seek help – there’s a whole world of support out there for you.

*Source: Therapies for obsessive-compulsive disorder: Current state of the art and perspectives for approaching treatment-resistant patients – Frontiers in Psychiatry

Tips for managing Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Figuring out what sets off your obsessions and compulsions is key. Keeping a journal to track these can be really insightful and help you spot patterns in your behaviour.

Using self-help resources like Overcoming Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder by Dr David Veale and Rob Willson can help you challenge and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviours.

Apps like "GGOC" can be really handy. They offer tools for tracking your symptoms, guided exercises for managing anxiety, and even connect you with support groups.

Break down tasks into smaller, manageable steps. This can help reduce feelings of overwhelm and make it easier to tackle challenges one at a time.

Talking to friends, family, or joining support groups can provide valuable emotional support. Knowing you’re not alone can be a powerful motivator in managing OCD.

Booking a session with one of our Psychologists can give you personalised strategies and support to manage your OCD symptoms effectively.

Our Psychologists are highly qualified with Masters or Doctorate degrees in Clinical Psychology and can provide treatment for OCD. They use Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), the gold standard for many psychological issues, along with other evidence-based treatments like Mindfulness and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).