Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

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There are two types of treatment for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: therapeutic intervention and medical intervention.

COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the most proven form of therapy for OCD patients. CBT does not focus on discussing probing dreams or repressed emotions. Instead, CBT is a type of therapy that gives patients tools to use to stop anxiety-producing thoughts and put an end to their compulsions.

Therefore, CBT operates under the principle that if you can alter your behavior, then you can change how you think and feel. (2000, Waltz)

In the case of OCD, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy guides patients through exposing themselves to their fear, or anxiety provoking thought, and then using all of one’s strength to accept the fear instead of performing the compulsion. This exercise in CBT is called exposure and response prevention (E&RP).

At first, the patient may only be able to resist their compulsion for a minute. Even a minute is a milestone for a patient who performs compulsions immediately after having a thought about their obsession. In theory, the patient should be able to build more control over their reaction, eventually becoming confident in their ability to accept their anxiety and fear.

MEDICATION

Medication is a viable option for the treatment of OCD. CBT is recommended to occur concurrently with medication to attain the best results for the patient.

There are several types of medications on the market that have been proven to reduce anxiety. As a result, the anxiety the patient experiences is lessened, and the cycle of obsessions and compulsions can be slowed and even stopped.

Unlike Cognitive Behavior Therapy, medication does not teach the patient how to understand or control the anxiety. Where CBT gives patients tools to deal with their anxieties, medication is only successful at dampening them. Therefore, CBT remains the top treatment choice for treating OCD. Medication should be thought of as a supplement to CBT.

TYPES OF MEDICATION

Every OCD patient is different and there is no one medication to treat OCD. However, all medications that have been studied to be successful in treating OCD are under the category of antidepressants.

The two sub-categories of antidepressants are tricyclic antidepressants (e.g. Anafranil) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). The SSRIs are Prozac, Celexa, Luvox, Paxil, and Zoloft.

Although all SSRI’s act to inhibit the reuptake of serotonin, they all have differences in how they interact with the body. For example, Paxil tends to be sedating, while Zoloft tends to be energizing.

For these reasons, finding the right prescription for a child, or even an adult, will take a lot of consideration and patience. Parents and their doctor may have to try several different medications, and different dosages, before finding the right fit.