Frequently asked questions about OCD

No. Although genetic factors are involved in the disorder, if you have OCD it does not necessarily mean that your descendants will develop the condition.

No. There are different types of symptoms. Some people with OCD may always have the same symptoms for long periods. For other people their symptoms may change over time or they may have different OCD symptoms at different times in their lives.

Most people with OCD should initially receive psychological treatment in the form of exposure and response prevention (ERP), but this treatment is not always available in our healthcare setting (either because few professionals have been trained to provide ERP or because there is a waiting list). Therefore, patients are often prescribed drug therapy as their initial treatment. Some people improve with drug therapy, but for others it is necessary to assess the possibility of providing psychological treatment or other options.

No, as long as the person with OCD is willing to dedicate time and effort to the psychological treatment and there is an experienced professional available to help them. However, it can be hard to find an experienced professional.

Psychological treatment helps the patient learn to overcome their fear or anxiety and for most people it is a difficult, yet ultimately satisfactory, experience. In order for exposure and response prevention therapy to function correctly, the patient must practise certain tasks every day over a period of weeks or months. The psychological treatment does not usually work without this daily practice. Therefore, patients must understand that the most important thing is not visiting the professional, but regularly practising the exercises while following their indications.

Drug therapy is simpler and requires less effort than psychological treatment, as patients just have to take a tablet every day and do not need to practise any tasks. It takes some time (weeks) before the medicines used to treat OCD start working and they can produce some undesired side effects (which vary depending on each drug). In any case, it is important to emphasize that the medications used for OCD are not addictive.

Most people with OCD who receive treatment show an improvement. Some improve significantly, to the point where they are considered to be “cured”, although in the context of OCD, being “cured” does not mean they will never experience any more symptoms. 

Both psychological treatment and drug therapy initially last for a few months, after which the patient will be assessed for any improvement. There is not improvement or only partial improvement, it may be considered to add other treatments (pharmacological or psychological) or to increase the dosages of the pharmacological treatment or the frequency of the psychological treatment.

In people with very limiting OCD, who have undergone a number of treatments without success, there is the option of surgical treatment or deep brain stimulation; that is, a brain operation. However, this treatment is used only in people who are very limited by the disorder and, as mentioned above, when all other treatments have not worked

For most people with OCD, the symptoms do not usually disappear over time unless they have adequate treatment. However, with adequate treatment, most people improve. Unfortunately, some people with OCD often wait years before going to a professional. Delaying treatment of the symptoms may lead to a worse prognosis for the condition.

As mentioned, some people with OCD can suffer other problems (for example, depression or anxiety). In addition, some complications can be a consequence of OCD. For example, someone who is obsessed about dirt and washes his hands repeatedly may have skin problems as well as OCD symptoms.