Houston Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Treatment

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterized by obsessions (reoccurring, intrusive thoughts or images) and compulsions (actions performed in response to the obsession). Obsessions are worries or concerns that feel uncontrollable and cause distress. Compulsions are repetitive rituals the person feels compelled to complete to ease their distress. Engagement in the compulsion often results in brief relief and then leads to increased reliance on the compulsion to lessen the anxiety.

Typical obsessions involve fears of contamination, illness, incompletion, and engaging in taboo or dangerous behavior. Themes often center around death, harm, aggression to self or others, sex, and religiosity. Common compulsive behaviors include repetitive cleaning, checking, ordering, counting, repeating, reassurance seeking, and hoarding.

Obsessions and compulsions are typically unreasonable, excessive, time-consuming, and distressing and interfere with the individual’s ability to function and enjoy life. Magical thinking is often present in those with OCD and involves the belief that one's thoughts or actions can influence the course of events in the material world. For example: if I always get out of bed on the left side, I can protect my family from harm today.

Treatment can be effective for those with OCD and may include medication, psychotherapy, and transcranial magnetic stimulation. Psychotherapy with a licensed therapist may include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and related therapies, like Habit Reversal Training and Exposure Response Prevention.