Medical Review by Jennie Stanford, MD, FAAFP, DipABOM
Summary:
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that includes persistent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions).
- OCD symptoms often include obsessions or compulsions about symmetry, forbidden thoughts, cleaning, or hoarding.
- Only a qualified mental health professional can diagnose you with OCD. Talking to a healthcare provider is important for being able to tell the difference between OCD and other conditions.
- Effective treatments include a form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that focuses on gentle exposure to your triggers, as well as medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Second-line treatments may be considered if primary treatments are ineffective.
- Virtual consultations can provide convenient and effective support for managing OCD. Speaking to a healthcare provider online in a private setting can make it easier to talk about your symptoms and find the support you need.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder disrupts daily life—but help is available
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that causes you to experience persistent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions). If you have OCD, it’s important to understand where it comes from, how it can affect your life and others around you, and what you can do to manage it.
You can learn more about OCD below—including its symptoms, how it’s diagnosed, and what different treatment options exist. This can help you seek professional guidance and make informed decisions about your mental health care.
Understanding the basics of OCD
What is OCD?
OCD is a common disorder that affects approximately 1-3% of people worldwide. It involves intrusive thoughts that cause significant anxiety and repetitive behaviors intended to reduce that anxiety. Although these behaviors often provide temporary relief, they can also interfere with daily life.
Common misconceptions about OCD include the belief that it is simply about being overly tidy or perfectionistic. In reality, OCD can manifest in many forms, such as compulsive checking, counting, or hoarding.
The good: treatments for OCD exist
If you have OCD, you don’t just have to accept it. There are numerous ways that you can work with a healthcare provider to manage your symptoms, including therapy and medicine—see the section of this article called “Treatment options for OCD” to learn more.
The bad: OCD can severely impact your life
OCD can lower your quality of life in numerous ways. It may be linked to depression, anxiety, and panic attacks—as well as higher alcohol consumption, lower socialization, and even a higher risk of suicidal thoughts. For these reasons, it’s important to seek help for OCD if you feel that it is affecting your life.
Common symptoms of OCD
The symptoms of OCD can vary widely, but they usually fall into one of four dimensions:
- Symmetry: obsessive thoughts related to symmetry, with actions related to counting or ordering.
- Forbidden thoughts: these are often aggressive, sexual, religious, or focused on physical sensations.
- Cleaning: thoughts and behaviors related to cleaning or contamination.
- Hoarding: thoughts and behaviors that are about gathering or collecting things in excessive amounts.
Real-life examples can help illustrate these symptoms. For instance, you might wash your hands dozens of times a day due to fears of germs, or you might repeatedly check to make sure the stove is off, even if you just checked it. Recognizing these patterns is the first step toward seeking help.
How OCD is diagnosed
You might hear people casually say that they have “a little bit of OCD”, but this attitude contributes to common misunderstandings about what OCD is—and what it isn’t.
It’s normal to have repetitive thoughts and habits, but these are not the same as the obsessions or compulsions that OCD causes. If you have OCD, you probably struggle to control the behavior that you feel compelled to perform, and it probably takes up significant time and energy on a daily basis.
Only a qualified mental health professional can diagnose OCD. OCD used to be considered a type of anxiety disorder, but it has since become defined as a distinct disorder with unique characteristics.
Learn More: Understanding Your Options for Anxiety Medication
When you meet with your healthcare provider to discuss whether you have OCD, they will conduct an evaluation. This will involve questions about your symptoms and the way you react to them—which can help your provider determine whether your symptoms are from OCD or a different mental health condition.
Treatment options for OCD
Treatment for OCD can involve therapy, medication, or both. Here’s an overview of the most widely-used treatments and their potential benefits.
CBT for OCD
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)—particularly a form called exposure and response prevention (ERP)—is a highly effective way to help manage OCD symptoms. It has been shown to reduce symptoms for 42-52% of patients.
This type of CBT includes education that helps you confront the fear or discomfort at the root of your OCD. By doing so, the aim is to help you curb the intrusive thoughts or repetitive behaviors your OCD causes. You might be gradually exposed to some of the things that trigger your OCD in a controlled setting while your therapist encourages you to resist certain behaviors that would normally result.
SSRIs for OCD
Medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), can also be used to reduce the intensity of your obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors.
By preventing a chemical in your brain called serotonin from being too quickly, these drugs increase your serotonin levels. Since serotonin levels have been linked to OCD, increasing the available serotonin in your brain can make symptoms easier to manage in some patients.
Second-line treatments for OCD
Other treatments for OCD may be considered if front-line treatments are not proving to be effective. These may involve other medications such as antidepressants, or experimental techniques. Always talk to a qualified healthcare professional before taking any medication or trying any experimental approach, as it is vital to understand the possible side effects or risks beforehand.
Virtual health consultations for OCD
Online healthcare services may be particularly useful for treating OCD. A virtual consultation can allow you to speak with a qualified medical practitioner from the comfort of your own home.
Research suggests that video calls with healthcare professionals can result in better clinical outcomes for OCD patients. If you find it challenging to attend in-person appointments due to your symptoms, this approach may help improve your quality of life.
FAQ
What is OCD?
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition where you have unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and feel the need to perform certain behaviors (compulsions) to reduce the anxiety they cause. It affects an estimated 1-3% of people in the world.
How is OCD diagnosed?
OCD is diagnosed through a detailed evaluation by a mental health professional, including interviews and assessments based on criteria outlined in the DSM-5.
What are the common treatments for OCD?
Common treatments for OCD include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), particularly exposure and response prevention (ERP), and medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Can OCD be treated through virtual doctor visits?
Virtual doctor visits are an effective way to receive consultation and treatment for OCD. Lemonaid Health offers virtual consultations that provide convenient and confidential access to qualified healthcare practitioners.
