Treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder, known as ODO, is performed with the use of antidepressant medications, cognitive behavioral therapy or a combination of both, although it does not always cure the disease, this treatment is able to adequately control symptoms in most cases, thus improving the quality of life of the person living with this problem.
If a person has symptoms indicative of this disorder, such as compulsion or obsession with cleanliness, symmetry, repetitive behavior or excessive superstition, for example, he should go to a psychiatrist, for a correct assessment, diagnosis and thus receive the indication of the most appropriate treatment. . Discover the main symptoms and learn how to identify ODO.
- A psychiatrist should recommend the treatment of obsessive-compulsive medication-based disorder.
- And antidepressants are usually indicated for adults and children.
- Some of the most commonly used medications include:.
These remedies should be used daily, and their effect can take 6 to 12 weeks to take effect, so every 4 to 8 weeks of treatment the psychiatrist can perform re-evaluations and consider the need to increase the dose.
Some people may need high doses of medication, which increases the risk of side effects, which may include nausea, dizziness and drowsiness. If the effects are very severe, it is necessary to talk to your doctor to evaluate the possibility of changing medication.
Cognitive behavioral therapy, or TCC, is the most appropriate psychotherapy approach to the treatment of ODO, as it is essential to reduce anxiety attacks and control disease behavior in the disease.
This therapy is characterized by helping the person identify beliefs and thoughts that cause obsessive behavior, in this way the psychologist, by listening to the person’s speech with ODO, can help create ways to better manage situations, reducing episodes of compulsion and obsession. .
Sessions of this therapy can be done in a practice and last approximately 50 minutes, the number of sessions and the duration of treatment will depend on the degree of ODO. Learn more about how cognitive behavioral therapy works.
Natural treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder can be done through therapy sessions that include relaxation and meditation techniques such as yoga, shiatsu and reiki; acupuncture may also be indicated, which involves applying small needles to specific locations to improve symptoms of anxiety, which aggravate ODO.
In addition, regular physical activity, such as walking, is an excellent ally for reducing stress and anxiety.
It is important to pay attention to the diet, as there are foods with properties that help control anxiety and increase the feeling of well-being, such as peanuts, bananas, oats and passion fruit tea, for example. See dietary tips for combating stress. anxiety.
Neurosurgery is a type of surgery performed on the brain and is only indicated for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder for more severe cases, where medications and cognitive behavioral therapy do not improve symptoms.
Neuromodulation therapy is a type of noninvasive treatment, i. e. it does not use cuts, which has similar effects to neurosurgery, however, studies are still being developed to understand the application of this type of therapy in the treatment of ODO.