Obsessive compulsive disorder is a mental disorder in which the patent has unwanted and pushy thoughts or stressful images that lead to compulsive behaviors that are designed to curb these obsessive thoughts and impulses in order to prevent a dreaded situation or event. Most of the individuals suffering from this disorder are aware that these behaviors are unreasonable and useless and do not want to perform them, yet are unable to refrain from doing so. There are certain rigid rules and elaborate rituals by means of which such behavior is performed and are often extremely time consuming. If the individual is unable to perform these obsessive acts, he/she suffers a great deal of anxiety and is extremely distressed. These obsessive behavior patterns disrupt the normal daily functioning of the individual at social and performance levels.

OCD was once considered to be a rare disorder, but recent statistics have revealed that almost 3 million Americans suffer from it. Treatment for Obsessive compulsive disorder comprises of medications or behavior therapy or a combination of both. One of the biggest challenges that face the treatment process is that most of the individuals affected by this disorder either do not seek treatment due to the stigma attached to it or discontinue over a period of time.

Treatment for Obsessive compulsive disorder:

Medications: In the early 1980s, research revealed that medications affecting the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain are a class of medications that has been studied in depth and has reasonably good effects in the treatment of OCD. This class of medications is known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and helps reduce the severity of the symptoms of OCD with approximately 50 to 70 percent of OCD patients showing at least a 25 percent reduction in symptoms. Some of the most common SSRI drugs used in the treatment of OCD include clomipramine, anafranil, fluoxetine and prozac.

One of the most prominent disadvantages of treating OCD with drugs like other anxiety disorders is that the relapse rates tend to be very high followed by the discontinuation of the medication. OCD can become a chronic condition if left untreated and a number of patients who do not seek alternate forms of behavior therapy often have to stay on these drugs for an indefinite period.

Behavior therapy for OCD:

Behavioral treatment for OCD involves a combination of exposure and (compulsive) response prevention and is considered to be the mot effective long term approach in the treatment of this disorder. During the treatment process the patient is exposed to stimuli that provoke their obsession and then prevent them from engaging in their compulsive rituals which they ordinarily would engage in to reduce the anxiety/distress provoked by their obsession. Preventing the rituals becomes necessary in order to make the patents see that the anxiety induced by the obsessive behavior will disperse naturally if enough time is allowed to pass.

Surgery: OCD is a crippling disorder if it turns chronic and various neurological techniques are being sought for its treatment. Prior to surgical intervention, it is essential for the patient to have has severe OCD for at least 5 years with no response to all other known forms of treatment.