Management of obsessive compulsive disorder

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry and Behavioral Science
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) treatment was historically challenging, marked by therapeutic pessimism.
• Significant advancements in OCD treatment emerged approximately 25 years ago.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current landscape of effective treatments for obsessive compulsive disorder.
• To outline the established therapeutic strategies and their indications.

Main Methods:

• Review of established pharmacologic and behavioral interventions for OCD.
• Analysis of treatment guidelines and clinical evidence for serotonin reuptake inhibitors and behavior therapy.
• Evaluation of criteria for considering psychosurgery in refractory OCD cases.

Main Results:

• Effective treatments, including behavior therapy and serotonin reuptake inhibitors, have transformed OCD management.
• The current optimal treatment strategy involves a combination of behavior therapy and pharmacotherapy using serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
• Psychosurgery is reserved for patients with disabling symptoms who have not responded to established treatments.

Conclusions:

• Modern pharmacotherapy and behavior therapy offer effective management for obsessive compulsive disorder.
• A combined therapeutic approach represents the current gold standard for OCD treatment.
• Psychosurgery remains a viable option for highly selected, treatment-refractory OCD patients.