Treatment for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Medication for OCD

Prescription medication for OCD has been proven to be very effective in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). For most people there is at least one medication that will help alleviate some of the symptoms. One problem with medication, however, is that it is not usually a permanent or complete cure. Read more about medication for OCD and what to do if your medication is not doing enough for your OCD.

Cognitive-Behavior Therapy for OCD

At one time, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) was thought of as a purely "neurotic" disorder. There were no known effective treatments, and people with severe OCD were often institutionalized or housebound. Cognitive-behavioral treatments are now used in the treatment of OCD, with very high rates of success. Learn more about cognitive-behavior therapy for OCD.

Also read about behavioral treatment for OCD in children and adolescents.

If you have difficulty leaving the house due to agoraphobia, social phobia, disability, small children in the home, or other factors, then online counseling may be a good option for you. Learn more about online thearapy for OCD and other anxiety disorders.

Herbal Treatments for OCD

Research into effective herbal treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorder has only just begun. Several herbal remedies show promise, but few have been tested rigorously enough to become recognized as an accepted treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder. St. John's Wort shows the most promise. Learn more about herbal treatments for OCD and anxiety.

Treatment Refractory OCD

Unfortunately for a small percentage of people with obsessive-compulsive disorder, medication and behavioral therapy are unable to offer adequate help. This form of OCD is called "treatment refractory OCD." For those people who truly have treatment refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder, there is still hope. There are many alternative treatments as well promising experimental options. More about very stubborn OCD.

Psychosurgery for OCD

One must remember that there are many options before psychosurgery, and most people do respond to medication or behavioral therapy. Nonetheless, some people have treatment-resistant OCD. In such cases, surgery should be considered if other options have failed. Learn more about brain surgery for OCD.