Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Compassionate and evidence-based care to help you manage intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors.
What Is OCD?
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by persistent, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) performed to alleviate anxiety. Individuals with OCD often find these thoughts and behaviors distressing and time-consuming.
At Premier Psychiatry, our team specializes in the assessment and treatment of OCD. We understand the impact of obsessive-compulsive symptoms on individuals' lives, and our goal is to provide compassionate and evidence-based care to support their journey to recovery.
Common Features of OCD:
- Obsessions: Intrusive and unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that cause significant anxiety.
- Compulsions: Repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed in response to obsessions, aimed at preventing a feared event or reducing anxiety.
- Impact on Daily Life: OCD can significantly impact daily functioning, relationships, and overall well-being.
Types of OCD:
- Contamination & Cleaning: Fear of germs leading to excessive cleaning.
- Checking: Persistent fear of harm or danger leading to repetitive checking.
- Symmetry & Order: Need for things to be in a particular arrangement.
- Hoarding (a related condition): Difficulty discarding possessions resulting in excessive accumulation; hoarding disorder is diagnosed separately from OCD.
Our Treatment Approach
Treatment helps many people with OCD, even those with severe symptoms. Premier Psychiatry is committed to providing individualized care to help you manage these challenges.
Comprehensive Assessment
We conduct thorough assessments to understand the specific obsessions and compulsions and their impact on daily life.
Treatment Options for OCD
OCD is typically treated with specific types of psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of the two. Premier Psychiatry provides psychiatric evaluation and medication management, and your provider can discuss whether therapy, such as Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), may be helpful alongside medication.
About Exposure and Response Prevention
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), a specific type of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) delivered by trained therapists, helps individuals gradually confront fears without engaging in compulsions, and research shows it is effective in reducing compulsive behaviors.
Medication Management
Your provider may recommend medication to help ease symptoms.