In this approach, a person is deliberately and voluntarily exposed to whatever triggers the obsessive thoughts and then, is taught techniques to avoid performing the compulsive rituals and to deal with the anxiety. OCD is sometimes accompanied by depression, eating disorders, substance abuse, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or other anxiety disorders. When a person also has other disorders, OCD is often more difficult to diagnose and treat. Symptoms of OCD can also coexist and may even be part of a spectrum of neurological disorders, such as Tourette s syndrome. A combination of the two therapies is often an effective method of treatment for most patients.
Some individuals respond best to one therapy, some to another.
These drugs include fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline, clomipramine and fluoxetine. If a patient does not respond well to one SRI, another SRI may give a better response. Medications are of great help in controlling the symptoms of OCD, but often, if the medication is discontinued, relapse will follow. Most patients can benefit from a combination of medication and behavioral therapy. In this approach, the patient is deliberately and voluntarily exposed to the feared object or idea, either directly or by imagination, and then is discouraged or prevented from carrying out the usual compulsive response.