OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD)

OCD is represented by symptoms that include intrusive thoughts, rituals, preoccupations, and compulsions. These recurrent obsessions or compulsions cause severe distress to the person. The obsessions or compulsions are time-consuming and interfere significantly with the person's normal routine.  

Fear of contamination by people or the environment

Fear of perpetrating aggression or being harmed (self or loved ones)

Disturbing sexual thoughts or images

Extreme worry something is not complete

Fear of losing or discarding something important

Extreme concern with order, symmetry, or precision

Excessive or ritualized hand washing, showering, brushing teeth, or toileting

Repeated cleaning of household objects

Ordering or arranging things in a particular way

Repeatedly checking locks, switches, appliances, doors, etc.

Rituals related to numbers, such as counting, repeating, excessively preferencing or avoiding certain numbers.

People with OCD may also avoid certain people, places, or situations that cause them distress and trigger obsessions and/or compulsions. Avoiding these things may further impair their ability to function in life and may be detrimental to other areas of mental or physical health.

A diagnosis of OCD requires the presence of obsessional thoughts and/or compulsions that are time-consuming (more than one hour a day), cause significant distress, and impair work or social functioning. OCD often begins in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood. Some people may have some symptoms of OCD but not meet full criteria for this disorder. OCD affects 2-3% of people in the United States, and among adults, slightly more women than men are affected. 

One effective treatment is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) known as exposure and response prevention (ERP). A class of medications known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), typically used to treat depression, can also be effective in the treatment of OCD. The best treatment for OCD is a combination of CBT and SSRIs, especially if OCD symptoms are severe. If you’re ready to schedule an appointment at Lifeway Mental Health, call and book a consultation online today.