Peer Reviewed
Feature Article Psychiatry and psychology
Guidelines for recognition and treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder
Abstract
Obsessive compulsive disorder is a disabling condition that affects 100,000 adult Australians each year. Only rarely does it recover spontaneously. Treatment usually works well, but many sufferers are too embarrassed to seek help.
Key Points
- Obsessions are intrusive thoughts, images or impulses which generate anxiety or distress.
- Compulsions are performed in response to obsessions in an attempt to alleviate anxiety or prevent a feared consequence.
- Obsessions and compulsions significantly interfere with the person’s everyday activities or take more than one hour a day.
- Obsessive compulsive disorder can be successfully treated in the majority of cases with behaviour therapy alone or in combination with an SSRI.
- Referral to a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist for behaviour therapy is recommended.
Purchase the PDF version of this article
Already a subscriber? Login here.