OCD Treatment Methods

January 19, 2009 · Filed Under Health Related Article · Comment 

OCD stands for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, where the patient repeatedly encounters meddling thoughts and ideas usually associated with fear, worry and insecurity, termed as “obsession” and are thereby compelled to perform the ideas such as washing and cleaning repeatedly, cross-checking over and again, etc. Such activities are collectively termed as “compulsion” (or “rituals”) to overcome the insecurities with which the patient is challenged. Basically, a mental disorder associated with anxiety, the causes of OCD are mostly biological in nature. The OCD treatment begins with

  • Identifying the symptoms
  • Appropriate diagnosis and
  • Acceptance of the disorder especially by loved ones.

Only after this stage, the OCD treatment could have a higher chance of success; remember to have support and encouragement from your family.

An understanding of the OCD Treatment techniques reveals that the line of attack lies at reducing the symptoms. The major tactic in dealing with OCD is combining the various techniques and can thus be broadly studied under the various captions.

MEDICATION

1. Antidepressants

Drugs for treating anxiety and depression can be used to treat OCD when the causes of depression and OCD are determined to be the same. Anti-depressants like fluvoxamine, fluoxetine, paroxetine and sertraline, which are known as Selective Serontonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs).

Mode of Action:

  • These kind of antidepressants has higher levels of Serotonin and inhibition of the receptor cells to take up the chemical result in higher stimulation.
  • Depression is the result of under stimulation of receptor cells.
  • Your mood, hunger, anger and even sexuality are affected by the serotonin level in your body.

2. Antiobsessional Drugs

Some of such drugs could be consumed under the strict supervision of a Physician as they may possess irreversible neurological side-effects. These pharmaceutical products aim at controlling OCD at the obsession level. Thus the compulsion is drastically reduced too.

PSYCHOTHERAPY

Psychotherapy is very important in OCD treatment; it can boost the drugs effect and help the patient to recover faster. This kind of treatment will be done by trained and qualified psychiatrist. The treatment starts from exposure and response prevention; by exposing the patient to the OCD triggered environment, or situation, and let them know they should only do the things once, re-program their behavior to react and prevent repetitive action, and this is called Behavior Therapy. The co-operation between the patient and the therapist is very critical, both must be able to work together to overcome the problems and troubles faced by the patient.

PSYCHOSURGERY

Psychosurgery is the ultimate option when all other OCD treatment techniques have failed. Surgery aims at deep stimulations of the nerves emerging from the CNS. The technique entails high precision and is not always successful.

NATURAL REMEDIES

Native remedies can be very effective against OCD and anxiety related problems, and this kind of herbals has been around and used by people around the world for hundreds and even thousands of years. Herbals are known to has less side effect than chemical based drugs.

  • Inositol: Some kind of naturally produced sugar that capable of changing the serotonin levels.
  • St. John’s Wort: Calm depression effectively
  • Passionflower: Herb that has sedative effects and helps in relaxation.

If you want to find more about Anxiety and OCD Product Reviews or Natural Treatment for Anxiety and OCD, feel free to visit our website.