What is the treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder?
The usual treatment for OCD is:
- Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), or
- Medication, usually with an SSRI antidepressant medicine, or
- A combination of CBT plus an SSRI antidepressant medicine
Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) - what is it?
CBT is a type of specialist 'talking' treatment (a specialist psychological therapy). It is probably the most effective treatment for OCD.
Cognitive therapy is based on the idea that certain ways of thinking can trigger, or 'fuel', certain mental health problems such as OCD. The therapist helps you to understand your current thought patterns. In particular, to identify any harmful, unhelpful, and 'false' ideas or thoughts which you have. Also to help your thought patterns to be more realistic and helpful. For example, if you have OCD it may be helpful to understand that thoughts or obsessions in themselves do no harm, and you do not have to counter them with compulsive acts. The therapist suggests ways in which you can achieve these changes in thinking.
Behaviour therapy aims to change behaviours which are harmful or not helpful. For example, compulsions. The therapist also teaches you how to control anxiety when you face up to any feared situations. For example, by using breathing techniques.
Cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT) is a mixture of the two where you may benefit from changing both thoughts and behaviours. This is the most common treatment for OCD. A particular variation of CBT called 'exposure response therapy' is often used for OCD. For example, say you have a compulsion to keep washing your hands in response to an obsessional fear about 'contamination' with germs. In this situation the therapist may gradually 'expose' you to 'contaminated' objects. But, the therapist prevents you from doing your usual compulsion (repeated hand washing) to ease your anxiety about contamination. Instead, the therapist teaches you how to control any anxiety in other ways. For example, by using deep breathing techniques. In time, you should become less anxious about 'contamination' and feel less need to wash your hands so much.
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