Although the symptoms of OCD can be debilitating, a variety of treatment options that are safe and effective. Find out more about the medications, psychotherapies, surgical procedures, and self-help techniques that have been proven to help reduce OCD symptoms.
Most of us are familiar with many physical benefits of aerobic exercise, including reduced cholesterol levels and lowered risk of heart disease and diabetes; however, there is growing evidence that exercise can also reduce symptoms of OCD. Learn more about the link between exercise and OCD.
Cognitive behavioral therapy for OCD is a highly effective treatment for OCD symptoms but does not work for everyone all of the time. Let’s explore the factors that predict whether you’ll respond to CBT for OCD.
Although psychological treatments have come to the forefront in the treatment of OCD, they are not always effective. Let’s explore some reasons why this happens and what you can do about it.
Psychological therapies are effective treatments for reducing the frequency and intensity of symptoms of OCD. Effective psychological treatments for OCD emphasize changes in behavior and/or thoughts. When appropriate, psychotherapy can be done alone or combined with medication. The two main types of psychological therapies for OCD are cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) and exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy.
If you have OCD, you know that sometimes obsessions and compulsions can be very embarrassing and upsetting, especially when concerning themes of sexuality and/or violence. It is important to keep in mind, however, that health care professionals are required by law to regard all information gathered and recorded in the course of an appointment as confidential – that is, private and not to be released without your permission – except under a few unique circumstances.
Although there are many effective medical and psychotherapeutic treatments available for OCD, not every treatment works for every individual. It often takes a little (or a lot) of experimentation to figure out what treatment or combination of treatments is going to work for you. That said, up to a third of people with OCD do not respond to standard treatment protocols and different strategies may then be necessary. Here are some options to consider when nothing seems to be working.
A&E has launched a new reality show called Obsessed which examines the real-life struggles of people with anxiety disorders including OCD. This program follows people with as they undergo cognitive-behavior therapy or CBT to treat their OCD symptoms. I recently interviewed A&E Obsessed’s Dr. Shana Doronn about the psychological treatment of OCD and some tips for getting the most of out treatment.
Although psychological treatments have come to the forefront in the treatment of OCD, they are not always effective. Let’s explore some reasons why this happens and what you can do about it.
Although there are many FDA approved medications available for the treatment of OCD, medications do not seem to work for one-third of people’s OCD symptoms. Let’s look at some reasons why this can happen and what to do about it.
Although there are many effective medical and psychological treatments available for OCD, not all treatments work for everybody. Unfortunately, for some people nothing seems to be effective. To combat this, a number of intensive residential treatment programs have been developed. Find out what in intensive OCD treatment program is and where to find one in your area.
Augmentation therapy is strategy that is being explored as a way to improve the odds of relieving OCD symptoms when treating OCD with medication. Augmentation therapy involves using combinations of drugs, rather than a single drug, for maximum effect. Augmentation strategies could be especially effective for people who do not respond to standard treatment.
Alternative medicines such as herbal remedies have been growing in popularity in both Europe and North America. Many people with anxiety disorders such as OCD have tried alternative therapies at one time or another. One of the most popular herbal remedies for anxiety and depression is St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum). Read more to find out of St. John's Wort works for OCD.
Although a number of medications and psychological therapies are available for OCD, it has been estimated that between 25 and 40% of people will not respond to treatment. Studies have suggested that treatments targeting specific circuits in the brain could be helpful in reducing OCD symptoms among those people who do not respond to first-line therapies. Deep brain stimulation may offer such a treatment.
Whether it is quitting smoking, starting a new diet or beginning a new workout routine, almost everyone has struggled at some point with making positive changes in their behavior permanent. Engaging in cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) for OCD managing symptoms of OCD is no different. Psychological treatments for OCD appear to work best for those individuals who are ready for change and understand how change works
Psychological therapies are recognized by both researchers and clinicians as effective treatments for reducing the frequency and intensity of symptoms of OCD. Effective psychological treatments for OCD emphasize changes in behavior and/or thoughts (sometimes called cognitions). When appropriate, behavioral and cognitive treatments are combined alone or with medication to get the best result.
Find out more about the medications, psychotherapies, surgical procedures, and self-help techniques that have been proven to reduce the obsessions and compulsions that accompany OCD.
An in-depth article on choosing a behavior therapist for combating OCD symptoms from the OCD Foundation.
A broad overview of the cognitive-behavior model of mental illness and its use in clinical settings.
A summary of the many types of antidepressants available to treat OCD symptoms, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
An introduction to the basics of alternative and complementary therapies.
Use About.com’s Drug Finder to get information on medications used to treat OCD.
