The person who is exhibiting symptoms that SEEM like OCD, should have a good physical exam. There could be underlying medical disorders that are causing some of the behavior. The doctor also needs to understand the patient's complete history in order to make the diagnosis. The diagnosis is made when the behaviors take up more than one hour of the day and cause real distress for the person. Treatment for OCD uses desensitization, cognitive behavioral therapy, and sometimes medication.
Desensitization means slowly exposing a person to what is feared.
The person fears stopping a behavior or thought. Treatment helps the person to find other ways to cope with the anxiety that results from stopping the behavior or the thought. Relaxation techniques are also taught. These methods help the person to control the body's reactions to anxiety. Medications such as anti-anxiety drugs and tranquilizers are sometimes used.