What is obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)?
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a disorder that involves two main symptoms:
Obsessions, or intrusive, unwanted and highly distressing thoughts that the individual cannot rid from their mind
Compulsions, or repetitive acts or rituals a person engages in to reduce the anxiety and distress caused by the obsessions
The content of obsessions varies. Some common categories include, but are not limited to:
Contamination
Unwanted sexual thoughts
Losing Control
Responsibility for harm
Scrupulosity (Religious Obsessions)
Need for symmetry or for things to be “just right”
Somatic, “body-focused” obsessions
Superstitious ideas about lucky/unlucky numbers, colors, etc.
What does treatment involve?
OCD Treatment at SASNJ is highly individualized and tailored for each client. Treatment contains three components:
Assessment. A review of the person’s specific symptoms is necessary to develop a targeted and efficient treatment plan.
Psychoeducation and Cognitive Therapy. The client is educated about OCD and how Exposure with Response Prevention functions to promote recovery. Clients learn to identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts and assumptions they may have about their ability to recover.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). ERP is the focus of OCD treatment Therapist and client collaborate on designing exposure experiences, and then work together addressing easier to harder challenges over time.