Options for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Treatment

Obsessive compulsive disorder treatment options are many and varied. If you or someone you know suffers from this condition, you will be happy to know that many of these options have been found to bring about both positive and permanent results, regardless of how severe or mild the individual’s symptoms may be. Some of the options available include medication, psychotherapy and self help programs.

Medication

Many persons tend to use medication as a means of an obsessive compulsive disorder treatment, under the supervision and guidance of a medical practitioner. In most cases, persons are normally prescribed with Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI’s) like Luvox and Prozac. This is because individuals with this condition tend to have low levels of serotonin in their brain, which is thought to be one of the contributing factors to their illness. As a result, these medications work to reduce the individual’s anxiety and improve their mood by increasing the brain’s serotonin level. This method however, does have side effects, and will not completely remove your symptoms; instead, it will only result in approximately 30 – 50% reduction of your symptoms. It is therefore normally recommended that therapy also be taking along with these medications.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is a very effective means of obsessive compulsive disorder treatment. The process is normally carried out in a one on one session with a specialist trained in the particular area, but can also be done in a group setting. The most effective type of psychotherapy is cognitive behavioral therapy; this method aims at changing the way the individual thinks by modifying their behavior. In this method, the patient is exposed gradually to that which causes their obsession or fear, but is however forbidden from engaging in the habitual behavior. As the patient is continually exposed and sees that nothing bad results, they become less and less anxious. This method has a 50-80% success rate.

Self help programs

Self help programs are another option for obsessive compulsive disorder treatment which has proven to be very effective. The best thing about these programs, and probably the main reason for their success is that most of them were developed by persons who themselves have overcome the condition and so have the experience and knowledge to help someone else. These programs are designed to teach persons with the condition to change the way they think, and deal with their symptoms in a very direct but safe way. There have also been sanctioned by experts in the field as being very reliable and effective programs.