How To Treat OCD
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a condition wherein a person has recurrent thoughts and ritualistic behaviors that he feels the need to perform to ease his anxiety. The difference between this condition from other psychiatric disorders is that the person knows his thoughts or obsessions are purposeless; the compulsion to perform an act is so great that he can’t stop himself from doing it.
Here are somethings you have to know about OCD to effectively treat this illness.
Causes
Although the definite cause for Obsessive Compulsive disorder remains unknown, research has shown that the following factors may play a role in the development of OCD
Biochemical factors. It has been studied that serotonin levels in the brain affects this condition. The lower your serotonin level is, the more you may be prone to OCD.
Environment. Your lifestyle and living conditions may also cause this disorder.
Group A beta hemolytic infection. It has been debated that this microorganism which causes strep throat may also cause obsessive compulsive disorder.
Stress and anxiety worsen OCD. The more a person tries to eliminate his anxiety by doing compulsive acts, the more the condition gets worse. Idleness may also lead to OCD as the person will have time to dwell more on his obsessive thoughts.
Signs and symptoms
The main symptoms for OCD is the presence of obsession and compulsion.
Obsessions are recurring thoughts that cause anxiety to an individual. They can also be distracting images and impulses. Most common themes of obsessions are symmetry, safety and contamination. Some are also obsessed with violence, offensive sexual and religious acts.
Compulsions. In order to stop the obsessive thoughts and release anxiety, a person with OCD is forced to do certain acts. Common compulsive acts are excessive washing of hands, repeatedly checking the door bolts and locks, arranging and rearranging table napkins. Another feature of this condition is that the person knows his behavior is senseless but he can’t avoid it. While there are conditions where a person also has compulsive acts, the compulsion in OCD is directed towards alleviating anxiety instead of gaining gratification.
Treatments
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a 2 part technique consisting of cognitive and behavioral methods. This therapy includes assessing your thoughts and identifying what triggers your obsessions. The goal is to modify these disturbing thoughts and find out more acceptable alternatives or behaviors to ease anxiety.
Behavioral therapy gradually exposes the person to his obsession and teaches him ways to control his compulsion. For example, a person’s obsessive thought is acquiring germs and his compulsion is excessive handwashing, he may be exposed to a situation where he would feel the need to wash his hands more than once. His therapist would encourage him to only do this once or not at all. This will go on until the patient either learns to control his compulsion or let go of the obsession completely.
Hospitalization in a psychiatric institution may be required for patients with severe cases.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may also be ordered by the doctor.
Medications
A person with OCD may be prescribed with antidepressant drugs to improve the biochemistry of his brain. Examples of these medications are:
Clomipramine
Fluoxetine
Paroxetine
Fluvoxamine
Facts:
OCD usually develops at age 10 on children and at age 21 on adults.
Some risk factors for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder are
A family history of the conditions
Stressful life
Pregnancy
OCD causes stress and interrupts a person’s daily living. It also affects his performance at work, social activities and relationships with others.
A person may get better after a few months of therapy and then have a relapse of the condition with symptoms much worse than before.
Obsessive Compulsive disorder may be a devastating condition, but it can be managed by following appropriate treatments.