Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD is more than just hand washing!!!  OCD is an anxiety disorder defined by  unwanted, anxiety-producing, intrusive thoughts called obsessions and the actions the sufferer does to reduce the anxiety called compulsions.

Everybody has unwanted, intrusive thoughts but people with OCD are unable to filter the thoughts out and over-react to the fact that they had the thought.  The thought is not the issue…… the reaction is what produces anxiety.  To reduce the anxiety OCDers utilize “safety behaviors” called rituals or compulsions to alleviate the anxiety although there may be no connection between the obsession and the compulsion.

Compulsions can be overt, counting, washing, cleaning, checking, tapping, or mental such as praying, ruminating, and worrying.  Anything done to alleviate the anxiety is a compulsion.

Treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is two-fold.  Usually meds are indicated to help with the anxiety and the over concern with the thought.  The most effective medications so far are the SSRI class of antidepressants.  Medications only help so much however.  A 50% improvement of OCD with medications is thought to be a good result.  The best treatment for OCD is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT and particularly a version called ERP or Exposure-Response Prevention.

ERP asks the sufferer to face their fear... Touch something contaminated, think the “forbidden” thought, do or think whatever causes the anxiety.  They are exposed to their fear.  Then they try to resist performing the compulsion to alleviate the anxiety.  Initially the process is very difficult but eventually the person becomes used to or habituates to the anxiety and the triggering thought or action loses its power over the sufferer.

There is no cure for OCD however sufferers who practice CBT can potentially get off all medications and the intrusive thoughts become mere background noise instead of controlling their lives.