Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

1. Psychotherapy

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), which is a type of Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), is the most effective treatment for OCD. 

​In ERP, there are 2 parts:

• "Exposure": expose yourself to the feared thoughts, images, objects and urges which begin your obsessions 

• "Response Prevention": make a choice not to engage in a compulsive behaviour when the anxiety or obsessions have been provoked

When you do not perform the compulsive behaviour in response to the obsession, eventually there will be a natural decrease in your anxiety level. This process is called "habituation".

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2. Medication

The chief medicines prescribed are a kind of antidepressant named selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). 

• By raising the level of serotonin, a chemical in your brain, an SSRI can help alleviate OCD symptoms.

• It may take 12 weeks for taking an SSRI to see any benefits

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References

International OCD Foundation. (n.d.). Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).

https://iocdf.org/about-ocd/ocd-treatment/erp/

National Health Service. (2019, November 18). Treatment - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. 

https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/treatment/

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