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Suggest Treatment For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Question: Hi,My Feancy is suffering from obscessive compulsive disorder(OCD) as i came to know from my pharmacist.Please suggest some medication for it.
Her symptoms include: Fully irritative all,not interested in her life,irrational and become further distressed by her realization,fear of her future only in the morning times.
Suffering from cold also(Dust Allergy frequently and now taking homeopathic medicines for dust allergy)
Her symptoms include: Fully irritative all,not interested in her life,irrational and become further distressed by her realization,fear of her future only in the morning times.
Suffering from cold also(Dust Allergy frequently and now taking homeopathic medicines for dust allergy)
Brief Answer:
Treatment with SSRI with behavior therapy helpful.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
I read your query in detail and do appreciate your concern for your fiancee. You have mentioned that your fiancee is suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), but it is not a diagnosis given by psychiatrist.
The symptoms that you have mentioned including being irritable, loss of interest, anxiety are highly suggestive of depressive episode. Depression can be primary or even secondary to OCD. However, none of the symptoms that you have mentioned occur exclusively in OCD.
Let me detail the symptoms on the basis of which OCD can be diagnosed. A person of OCD have repeated, intrusive thoughts regarding any thing (e.g., his/her hands are dirty, doubts that things are left unlocked, fear of any harm occurring to self or others). Such thoughts are unwanted and a person wants to stop those thoughts but is unable to. In response to such thoughts, the person starts doing repetitive behavior like washing, cleaning, checking things again and again, praying, etc.
In any case, considering the symptoms that you have mentioned, your fiancee would need treatment. The medications are prescription medications and I would suggest that you seek psychiatric consultation for her in view of her symptoms.
Had I been your treating psychiatrist, I would have evaluated her symptoms in detail. If she is having OCD with comorbid depression, I would have started her on one of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) like fluvoxamine or sertraline.
In addition treatment with cognitive behavior therapy in form of exposure and response prevention can be considered. This form of treatment need frequent (1-2 times a week) sessions lasting 45-60 minutes. It will focus on changing the behavioral pattern of repeated activities, learning relaxation exercises, all in a structured format. You can discuss regarding the same with your psychiatrist.
In case, she is suffering from depression alone, treatment with one of the SSRIs (escitalopram/sertraline ) would be recommended. Option of psychotherapy in form of supportive sessions or cognitive behavior therapy can be considered in this case also (sessions will be modified depending on actual symptoms).
I do hope that I was able to answer your query. If you have any further follow-up queries, please feel free to ask.
Wishing you and your fiancee all the very best,
Regards,
Dr. Sunil Gupta
Treatment with SSRI with behavior therapy helpful.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
I read your query in detail and do appreciate your concern for your fiancee. You have mentioned that your fiancee is suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), but it is not a diagnosis given by psychiatrist.
The symptoms that you have mentioned including being irritable, loss of interest, anxiety are highly suggestive of depressive episode. Depression can be primary or even secondary to OCD. However, none of the symptoms that you have mentioned occur exclusively in OCD.
Let me detail the symptoms on the basis of which OCD can be diagnosed. A person of OCD have repeated, intrusive thoughts regarding any thing (e.g., his/her hands are dirty, doubts that things are left unlocked, fear of any harm occurring to self or others). Such thoughts are unwanted and a person wants to stop those thoughts but is unable to. In response to such thoughts, the person starts doing repetitive behavior like washing, cleaning, checking things again and again, praying, etc.
In any case, considering the symptoms that you have mentioned, your fiancee would need treatment. The medications are prescription medications and I would suggest that you seek psychiatric consultation for her in view of her symptoms.
Had I been your treating psychiatrist, I would have evaluated her symptoms in detail. If she is having OCD with comorbid depression, I would have started her on one of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) like fluvoxamine or sertraline.
In addition treatment with cognitive behavior therapy in form of exposure and response prevention can be considered. This form of treatment need frequent (1-2 times a week) sessions lasting 45-60 minutes. It will focus on changing the behavioral pattern of repeated activities, learning relaxation exercises, all in a structured format. You can discuss regarding the same with your psychiatrist.
In case, she is suffering from depression alone, treatment with one of the SSRIs (escitalopram/sertraline ) would be recommended. Option of psychotherapy in form of supportive sessions or cognitive behavior therapy can be considered in this case also (sessions will be modified depending on actual symptoms).
I do hope that I was able to answer your query. If you have any further follow-up queries, please feel free to ask.
Wishing you and your fiancee all the very best,
Regards,
Dr. Sunil Gupta
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Answered by
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