AM
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Moderate severity
· Psychiatry
OCD
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder · Intrusive thoughts & rituals
Intrusive thoughts drive compulsive rituals (washing, checking, counting) that bring brief relief. Exposure and response prevention is the gold-standard therapy.
At a glance
- Prevalence
- Affects 2–3% lifetime
- Typical age
- Often starts in teens
- Outlook
- Highly treatable
- System
- Mind
Reviewed by a verified Psychiatry doctor
What causes it
Causes
- Genetics, family history
- Streptococcal infection in children (PANDAS)
- Brain circuit dysfunction
- Severe stress
How it feels
Symptoms & effects
- Intrusive unwanted thoughts
- Compulsive rituals to relieve them
- Hours lost daily
- Avoidance of triggers
- Functional impairment
How it’s treated
Treatment & cure
- ERP (exposure and response prevention)
- SSRIs at higher than depression dose
- Clomipramine in resistant cases
- Deep brain stimulation in rare cases
- Family education
Staying ahead
Prevention
- Identify early in teens
- Build distress-tolerance skills
- Limit reassurance-seeking
- Manage co-existing anxiety
Do’s
- Stick with ERP — it works
- Take SSRI for 8–12 weeks before judging
- Practice scheduled worry time
- Educate family — they shouldn't reassure
Don’ts
- Tell loved ones to 'just stop'
- Accommodate rituals indefinitely
- Mix ERP with avoidance
- Self-stop SSRI when better
See a doctor immediately if
Symptoms are sudden or severe, getting worse despite home care, or interfering with sleep, work or daily life. Don’t self-diagnose from the internet — book a verified clinician below.
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Disclaimer ·
This article is educational and reviewed by clinicians, but it cannot replace an in-person assessment.
Medication doses, prevention advice and treatment choices vary by person. Always confirm with a doctor before acting on anything here.