Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is an anxiety disorder which affects millions of people all over the world. As the name suggests, OCD is characterized by repetitive obsessive actions. These obsessions can be linked to cleanliness (repetitive washing and cleaning), hoarding (collecting useless disposable things), checking (repeatedly checking whether the fan/oven is turned off etc.) and can even be sexual in nature. While the milder forms of OCD can be passed of as harmless eccentricities; the more severe cases can completely destroy the sufferers’ social and professional lives.
Obsessive Compulsive disorder can be hereditary in nature but a majority of OCD cases are triggered by a very stressful event in the patient’s life. OCD can also be triggered by substance abuse. While OCD is still incurable, a variety of OCD treatments are available. These treatments help in managing and lessening the symptoms associated with this disorder. The major OCD treatments are described below.
- Medication: Since low serotonin levels in the brain are known to contribute to the symptoms of OCD, various SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) are used to treat OCD. In severe OCD cases tranquilizers like Buspirone (Buspar) are also used. Unfortunately, both the above mentioned medications come with serious side effects and must be used under strict medical supervision. To improve the effectiveness of medication as an OCD treatment, it is generally combined with psychotherapy.
- Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy in the form of Cognitive Behavior Therapy is the most popular OCD treatment in use today. It includes standard relaxation techniques which target the anxiety caused as a result of the OCD and it also includes “exposure and response prevention” therapy where the patient is gradually exposed to his/her obsessions in a controlled environment and taught to avoid the repetitive ritualistic behavior that follows. Psychotherapy positively affects 50-80% of OCD patients and is the frontline OCD treatment in use today.
- Surgery: Surgery is only used in very severe cases of OCD which are largely resistant to other forms of treatment. In this procedure, certain parts of the brain are disabled with the help of an electrode which is placed in the brain using MRI. Surgery is becoming increasingly popular as an OCD treatment for severe cases.
- Alternative Therapies: Many alternative treatments exist for OCD> Out of these only Inositol (glucose isomer), St. John’s Wart (herbal remedy) and Yoga (especially breathing exercises) are proven to reduce the incidence of OCD.
The above mentioned OCD treatments can give a new lease of life to people suffering from this dreaded disorder and must be used in combination for superior