Posted by yxibow on September 9, 2006, at 17:43:01
In reply to Re: Does anti-psychotics help, or worsen, OCD? » yxibow, posted by ace on September 9, 2006, at 0:36:41
> For bona-fide biological based OCD i belive psychotherapy of any type has the potential to make OCD worse in a great % of patients. However, the therapy you recommed I can espouse, and see that it has advantages.
>
> Patients almost invariably channel their obsessions into conquering OCD, which aint going to work.
>
> "you can't talk to illness'!
>
> Cheers!
> Ace
This isn't "talk" or psychodynamic therapy I'm referring to. I was diagnosed with the worst of my OCD (which had been there since puberty) towards the end of high school and was hospitalized for 2 and a half months afterwards during which and for several months after, I was supported by an OCD day treatment program. You agree to do behavioural therapy which has nothing to do with psychodynamic therapy, which is useful, but outside of a supporting nature between doctor and patient is not the angle generally for OCD.
Behavioural therapy means you acknowledge that there is a biological (all OCD has a lifetime biological and genetic origin in the caudate nucleus, its just when it is triggered into action that is psychological. Typically this is puberty but can be any traumatic event in someone's life, who has a biological tendency towards OCD) nature to OCD and one starts a treatment program towards conquering the current variety of OCD one has. This may include gradual reduction of handwashing, showering times, gradual reduction of checking doornobs or stoves or reduction in hoarding. The patient is typically rewarded with praise or some incentive, though that isn't necessarily required -- well praise is always due though of course.
The patient understands that the OCD is not their fault but that they can conquer their actions through behavioural therapy. Some OCD is very hard to manage even with behavioural therapy, though even pure obsessions have been monitored to some extent through behavioural therapy, by reduction of allowing one to become anxious by what is going on in their mind and the realization that it is mixed up thought that is not their own nature.
All of this is often done with the help of agents such as SSRIs and possibly benzodiazepines, to take the edge off of things and help reduce the OCD burden, but still allow the patient to continue with a behavioural program.
-- tidingsJay
poster:yxibow
thread:684141
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060909/msgs/684540.html