Treatment of OCD
By Owen Kelly, Ph.D., About.com Guide to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Although the symptoms of OCD can be debilitating, a variety of treatments are safe and effective. 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.
How is OCD Treated?

Although the symptoms of OCD can be debilitating, a variety of treatments are safe and effective. 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.
Psychological Therapy for OCD

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.
- Psychological Therapy
- Getting the Most Out of Psychological Treatments for OCD
- Thought Suppression
- What to Look for in a Therapist
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- An Interview With Obsessed’s Dr. Shana Doronn
- Why Isn’t Psychotherapy Working?
Developments in Treatment

Although a number of medications and psychological therapies are available for OCD, 25% to 40% of people will not respond to treatment. Learn more about the latest developments in the treatment of OCD.

