The Twin Therapies For OCD Briefly Explained

The Twin Therapies For OCD Briefly Explained

The depiction of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in media often casts the condition unfavorably. As a result, people diagnosed with it struggle with many emotional and social issues that regularly prevent them from enjoying more productive lives.

Fortunately, doctors can recommend twin therapies for OCD, namely, psychotherapy and medication.

A couple of things before we start:

  • First, many patients can manage their symptoms with psychotherapy alone. Still, doctors agree that treatment is most effective when these twin therapies are in place.
  • Second, treatment doesn’t necessarily result in a cure, although it helps bring symptoms under control.
  • Third, some patients may require lifetime treatment, so regular medical check-ups are necessary to maximize gains and minimize side effects.

Psychotherapy as a Foundation of Treatment

Psychiatrists usually start patients with OCD on a psychotherapy program since it’s the foundation of an effective treatment plan. Without it, the most effective medications will be of little use because there will be little behavior change.

The more common type of psychotherapy used on people with OCD is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). However, many types of CBT, too, of which exposure and response prevention (ERP) is among the most effective.

A patient is gradually exposed to a feared obsession or object and taught about healthy coping methods with the anxiety involved with the exposure. This therapy demands time, energy, effort, and practice.

Still, it is well worth it, especially once you start to get the obsessions and compulsions under control.

Medications Manage the Symptoms

Psychiatrists also prescribe certain medications to control the obsessions and compulsions associated with OCD. The first line of defense is antidepressants, including the following FDA-approved drugs:

Depending on each patient’s response, your doctor may prescribe many other psychiatric medications. However, if you have been diagnosed with OCD, you must remember that there’s no magic bullet for your case.

Your psychiatrist will use a trial-and-error method in determining the most effective medications and their dosage for you, so patience is a must.

You don’t have to take your medications without question, either. You can discuss your concerns about these OCD medications with your doctor, including their side effects, drug interactions, and suicide risk. It would be best to become an active partner in your own OCD treatment plan.

However, you should be careful about becoming overwhelmed with the tiniest details or if you have obsessions about working with healthcare professionals.