5 OCD Treatment Options To Consider

1. 5 OCD Treatment Options To Consider OCD is a mental condition defined by anxiety-inducing obsessive thoughts and beliefs, and the behaviors that are compulsively performed to ease the obsessions. Since this behavior ends up adding to the individual’s anxiety instead of soothing it, both the obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions that define OCD end up amplifying one another, necessitating treatment that can offer the individual suffering from OCD symptom relief. There are currently several established OCD treatment options, each offering its own level of efficacy and possible side effects. It is recommended you consult with your doctor to find the treatment best suited to your symptoms and needs. Deep TMS: Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (Deep TMS™) is a unique treatment course that uses magnetic fields to safely, effectively, and non-invasively reach brain structures associated with mental health conditions. Deep TMS has been FDA-cleared to treat OCD since 2018, due to its ability to offer substantial relief to those battling this condition. This finding was confirmed by a 2019 multicenter, sham-controlled clinical study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, which determined Deep TMS to effectively and safely alleviate symptoms of OCD, even among those patients who had not sufficiently improved from medication or therapy. As a non-invasive form of therapy, Deep TMS does not require anesthesia, can be incorporated into the individuals’ daily routine and does not cause any long-lasting or significant side effects. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: CBT is a form of talk therapy that is considered a first-line treatment for OCD. Under the guidance of a trained mental health professional, CBT focuses on the thoughts, feelings, behaviors and physical reactions involved in OCD. This is done in an effort to familiarize the patient with the condition’s different facets and gradually help alleviate its symptoms.

2. Over the years, several different types of therapy have branched out of CBT to offer patients with OCD greater symptom relief. Most notably among them is acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT): ACT promotes openness and flexibility when reacting to OCD symptoms, as the therapist helps the patient define and follow through with a commitment to their own well-being. Exposure and response therapy (ERP) is an additional form of therapy found to effectively treat OCD. ERP helps the patient overcome their OCD by gradually exposing them to stimuli they associate with OCD-inducing anxiety. The patient is encouraged to refrain from reacting to the stimuli in a compulsory manner, and over time they become accustomed to managing OCD-related, anxiety-raising behavior. Psychopharmacology: Medication is another form of therapy often considered a first-line treatment course for OCD.