Treatments for OCD

Drug Therapy 

Selvi et al (2011) researched the effects of two ‘extra’ drugs on OCD patients that had not responded well just taking SSRIs. The progress was measured with the Y-BOCS over an 8-week period:

• Aripiprazole showed 50% reduction in OCD scores.
• Risperidone showed 72.2% reduction in OCD scores.

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Cognitive behavioural therapy 

This focuses on helping the patient identify and modify any thoughts that cause anxiety, distress and compulsions. Since, the thoughts cannot be erased, it uses techniques like counterproductive strategies, which focus on associating the disorder with negativity.

• Reynolds (2013) found that CBT alone as well as with parents were effective in reducing the severity of OCD in children and adolescents so it would make sense that young people should decide which one they prefer.
• Olatunji et al (2013) found that behavioural therpay alone was superior to CBT  in redcuing OCD symptoms because of the nature of the disorder, implying that the mental illness is mostly affected by the compulsions.

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Psychoanalytic therapy 

The therapy involves the patient talking to a psychologists and different techniques could be used:

• Free association
• Dream analysis to analyse the content of dreams for hidden meanings and symbols.
• Hypnosis to access the unconscious mind

Chlebowski and Gregory (2009) noted that psychoanalytic therapy can be effective with OCD that is labelled as ‘late onset that concedes with stressors in the patients’ lives.’

Leichsenning et al (2008) reported that long-term psychoanalysis was associated with a significant reduction in the OCD symptoms and these were still seen one year after treatment.