- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) affects
over 3 million Americans every year. It generally
begins in mid-adolescence, but can begin as early
as childhood. Patients with OCD are extremely
uncomfortable. They know that their thoughts
and actions are unreasonable, but they feel
powerless to stop them. Obsessions and
compulsions are more than just ruminations and
habits, they are true symptoms that can
detrimentally affect one's life. The symptoms
can interfere with relationships, work, school,
sleep, and general happiness. The diagnosis of
OCD can be challenging, as patients are
sometimes quite embarrassed of their symptoms
and do not wish to admit or explore them.
The primary treatment for OCD is psychotherapy. Discovering the
reasons behind the obsessions or compulsions can effectively
eliminate them in many patients. Some patients need more
behaviorally-oriented treatment, teaching them alternatives to
the thoughts and actions and ways to avoid them. In certain
patients, antidepressant, anti-anxiety, and other types of medication
can give significant relief of the symptoms, but psychotherapy is
generally essential to the long-term treatment of the problem.
ocd/ gad
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder/ Generalized Anxiety Disorder
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