What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and How do you treat It?

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a common psychiatric disorder in which a person has uncontrollable, reoccurring, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and/or behaviours (compulsions) that he or she feels the urge to repeat over and over.
• It can affect 2-3% of the population.
• Obsessions are repeated thoughts, urges, or mental images that cause anxiety. Common symptoms include:

1. Fear of germs or contamination
2. Unwanted forbidden or taboo thoughts involving sex, religion, or harm
3. Aggressive thoughts towards others or self
4. Having things symmetrical or in a perfect order

• Compulsions are repetitive behaviours that a person with OCD feels the urge to do in response to an obsessive thought. Common compulsions include:

1. Excessive cleaning and/or handwashing
2. Ordering and arranging things in a particular, precise way
3. Repeatedly checking on things, such as repeatedly checking to see if the door is locked or that the oven is off
4. Compulsive counting

• Not all rituals or habits are compulsions. Everyone double checks things sometimes. But a person with OCD generally:

1. Can't control his or her thoughts or behaviours, even when those thoughts or behaviours are recognized as excessive
2. Spends significant time on these thoughts or behaviours
3. Doesn’t get pleasure when performing the behaviours or rituals, but may feel brief relief from the anxiety the thoughts cause
4. Experiences significant problems in their daily life due to these thoughts or behaviours

• Symptoms may come and go, ease over time, or worsen.
• Parents or teachers typically recognize OCD symptoms in children.
• What Causes OCD?
• Bio-psycho-social model
• Risk Factors: Family History, Stressful life Events, Other comorbid psychiatric and medical disorders.
• Intensity: Mild to Severe. Leads to significant distress, psycho-social & occupational impairment and reduced quality of life.
• Treatment: Medications likeSerotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs), which include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are used to help reduce OCD symptoms.
• SRIs often require higher daily doses in the treatment of OCD than of depression and may take 8 to 16 weeks to start working.
• Psychotherapy: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) & Relaxation (JPMR, Mindfulness)
• Usually, a combination approach including life style modifications is advised
• Remember: No two people are affected the same way by OCD. There is no “one-size-fits-all” for treatment.
• Kindly meet your mental health professional at the earliest for appropriate management of your OCD.