- Medication for OCD
- According to research studies, medications affecting serotonin (a neurotransmitter) can decrease the symptoms of OCD significantly. Three selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of OCD: Prozac (fluoxetine), Luvox (fluvoxamine), and Paxil (paroxetine). Studies have also shown that the SSRI Zoloft (sertraline) may also be helpful. If one medication is not helpful, another one may work. People who find relief from their symptoms by taking these medications often will need to take them indefinitely.
- Behavior Therapy for OCD
- The exposure and response prevention approach is most often used to treat people with OCD. With this approach, the person with OCD confronts (when ready) the feared thought or object. This may be done through visualization before confronting the actual object. With guidelines, the person learns to stop rituals and repetitive behaviors. In order for this treatment to be effective, the person with OCD must be motivated, and the therapist must be trained in using this approach to treat OCD.
How to Get Help
If you are concerned that you have the symptoms of OCD, you probably will want to start by talking to your general physician. He or she should be able to give you a referral to a mental health professional. If this is not possible and/or you want to go directly to a mental health professional, check local hospitals, clinics, and psychiatry departments of local universities for referrals. You may also want to contact your local mental health department (see the government listings in your telephone book).
