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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, if left untreated can lead to serious consequences and harm. There are a couple of ways that Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is treated.

• Psychotherapy

  A type of therapy called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has been shown to be the most effective. It is active, problem-focused, and goal-directed. CBT involves retraining your thought patterns and routines so that compulsive behaviors are no longer necessary. One approach in particular is called the exposure and response prevention (E/RP). It involves gradually exposing you to a feared object or obsession (exposure) such as dirt, and teaching you healthy ways to deal with it (response prevention). The cognitive portion of CBT is often added to E/RP to help challenge the irrational beliefs associated with OCD.

• Medications

  Clinical trials in recent years have shown that drugs that affect the neurotransmitter serotonin can significantly decrease the symptoms of OCD. Most people with OCD benefit from taking certain psychiatric medications. Some medications have been specifically approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat OCD, such as the antidepressants clomiparmine (Anafranil), paroxetine (Paxil), fluvoxamine (Luvox) and sertraline (Zoloft). Antidepressants may be helpful for OCD because they may help increase levels of serotonin. All of these medications have side effects and safety concerns, so it is important to consult with your physician.

• Self-care

  People with OCD should:

  • Take medication as prescribed

  • Attend all therapy sessions

  • Seek the support of your family and provide them with information about your disorder

  • Join a support group

References:

• Mayo Clinic

• National Alliance on Mental Illness

• Mental Health America

• Medicine Net

Extra Resources:

• National Institute of Mental Health

• Family Doctor

• Web MD

• Medline Plus

• Medicine Net