When intrusive thoughts and compulsions take over, proven treatment can give you relief.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that affects patients of all ages and is characterized by uncontrollable, recurring thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions) that the patient feels compelled to complete. Certain patients develop obsessions including counting or intrusive repetitive words or phrases, as well as compulsive behaviors that must be repeated without interruption — even if that behavior impacts their social interactions or quality of life.
Patients with OCD may exhibit obsessive symptoms, compulsive symptoms, or a combination of the two. Obsessions are repeated thoughts, mental images, or urges that cause anxiety — for example, persistent thoughts that are aggressive or harmful in nature, a preoccupation with symmetry and order, or unwanted forbidden thoughts of a sexual or religious nature. Compulsions are behaviors a patient feels the impulse to complete time and time again. These may include arranging items in a particular sequence, repeatedly checking behaviors such as whether a door is locked or the oven is off, and cleaning or hand washing. The diagnosis of OCD is given when these thoughts and behaviors are uncontrollable and excessive to the point of impeding everyday life.
Once a patient is diagnosed with OCD, Dr. Mitchell creates a customized treatment plan to address his or her specific needs. She treats patients with a combination of medication and specific modes of psychotherapy, such as exposure and response prevention therapy. This combination — therapy that helps patients recognize and control their compulsive behaviors, alongside medication — can help patients overcome the distressing symptoms of OCD and address the underlying imbalance.
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