Today we will examine Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and a newer approach to treatment. Obsessive-Compulsive disorder afflicts millions of people in the USA (about 2.3% of adults)1, but what it really entails isn’t very well-known to those who don’t have it. The term “OCD” gets thrown around carelessly in mass media and is misused to refer to an overly meticulous person. The truth couldn’t be more different.
OCD belongs to the anxiety disorders, a group of psychological problems characterized by enduring, often overwhelming feelings of fear, worry, apprehension and nervousness. In OCD, intrusive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive pattern of ritualistic behaviors that briefly reduce anxiety (compulsions) occur together. OCD causes intense, all-consuming worry and agitation about events that are unlikely to occur. A person with OCD believes they must perform a set of actions or catastrophe will follow, due to their failure to perform those behaviors. OCD sufferers typically know that their actions are irrational, and thus are unlikely to ask for help, as they fear accusations of insanity. A few common compulsions are counting items, checking things, or grooming tasks (e.g., excessive, even harmful amounts of handwashing).
Obsessions are unwanted and unpleasant thoughts, feelings, or even images that intrude into the forefront of a person’s consciousness. Obsessions cause tremendous anxiety which lessens when the person performs their rituals. While some rituals tie directly to the obsession, others don’t. Checking a stove’s burners over and over to ensure they’re off is naturally related to a fear of fire destroying one’s home. However, touching a certain arrangement of pictures to ward off a disaster shows no link between the fear and the actions. In all cases, compulsive behavior briefly eliminates the anxiety caused by the obsessions.
Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy
It’s a vicious cycle that won’t improve until it’s interrupted. Medication plus psychotherapy is the best treatment method in most cases. Some antidepressants are helpful in reducing the symptoms of OCD. These include clomipramine, fluvoxamine, and sertraline. One type of psychotherapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment that relieves and eliminates OCD. However, it takes a variation of CBT to do the job. Exposure and Response Prevention therapy (ERP), has been found to be an excellent approach to eliminating OCD. It works by exposing the person to their anxiety trigger, then not performing their ritualized behavior. A therapist observes the client in this process and provides support. ERP works by helping the client break the association between their obsessions and the resulting compulsions.
Damaris Aragon, ARNP, BC provides a full spectrum of mental health care to people in Spokane, Washington and the surrounding areas. She focuses on providing compassionate personalized care that adheres to current evidence-based standards. Reach out to Damaris through her contact page or calling 509-342-6592.
Reference: 1 https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd.shtml
