Treatments for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
ConditionInDepth
OCD can interfere with a person's day to day life. It can affect relationships, work or school effort, and general wellness. The goal of treatment is to ease symptoms and decrease the effect OCD has on a person's life.
Treatment often includes both counseling and medicine. Mental health professionals can treat OCD. They may include:
- Psychiatrists
- Psychologists
- Social workers
- Licensed mental health counselors
- Some family doctors with special training
Treatment involves the following:
OCD can be severe in some. Some may also not respond to medicine or therapy. Surgery or deep brain stimulation may be offered for them.
References
- About OCD. International OCD Foundation website. Available at: https://iocdf.org/about-ocd.
- Gadot R, Najera R, et al. Efficacy of deep brain stimulation for treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder: systematic review and meta-analysis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2022:jnnp-2021-328738.
- Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd. Accessed January 13, 2020.
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). National Institute of Mental Health website. Available at: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/index.shtml.
Contributors
- Adrian Preda, MD
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