What is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?

How Therapy Works

Goals of Therapy:

• Increase awareness and understanding of OCD

• Break the cycle of avoidance and compulsive behavior

• Improve daily functioning and reduce distress

• Equip individuals with lifelong coping strategies

Evidence-Based Therapies:

1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Focuses on identifying irrational beliefs and restructuring maladaptive thought patterns.

2. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)

Considered the gold standard for OCD:

• Exposes individuals to feared thoughts or situations

• Prevents engagement in compulsive responses

• Builds tolerance to anxiety and promotes habituation

3. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Teaches individuals to accept intrusive thoughts without acting on them, while committing to valued actions.

4. Mindfulness-Based Therapies

Helps increase present-moment awareness and reduce the reactivity to obsessions.

5. Psychoeducation

Educates individuals and families about the nature of OCD, treatment importance, and relapse prevention strategies.

Treatment

OCD is highly treatable, especially with a combination of medication and psychotherapy. Long-term management can lead to meaningful and lasting improvements.

1. Medication

Prescribed and monitored by a psychiatrist.
Common medications include:

• Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) (e.g., Fluoxetine, Fluvoxamine, Sertraline)

• Clomipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant

• Augmentation with antipsychotics in treatment-resistant cases

2. Psychotherapy

Therapy is essential in helping individuals manage obsessions and reduce compulsions.

Assessment and Diagnosis

Clinical Interview and History Taking

Mental health professionals gather detailed information on symptom patterns, triggers, duration, and interference in functioning. Family and medical history are also considered.

Diagnostic Criteria (DSM-5-TR)

Diagnosis requires:

• Presence of obsessions, compulsions, or both
• Symptoms interfere with day-to-day functioning.
• Not attributable to another medical condition or substance use

Psychological Assessments and Tools

• Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS)

• Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (OCI)

• Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI)

Medical Tests

Conducted to rule out neurological or medical conditions mimicking OCD (e.g., PANDAS in children).

Causes

Although the precise origin of OCD remains unclear, various factors play a role in its emergence:

Biological Factors

• Imbalance in serotonin and other neurotransmitters

• Brain circuit dysfunction, especially in the orbitofrontal cortex and basal ganglia

Genetic Factors

• Susceptibility is increased by a family history of anxiety disorders or OCD.

Psychosocial and Environmental Factors

• Early childhood trauma or abuse

• Stressful or life-changing events

• Learned behaviors or reinforcement cycles

Online Counselling

Free Self-Assessment