OCD

If obsessive thoughts and/or compulsive behaviors interfere with your daily routine and you’d like help overcoming them, see the experts at Royal River Psychiatric Care in Yarmouth, Maine. Julie Smith, PMHNP, and the skilled psychiatry team diagnose and treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) to reduce symptoms that negatively affect your quality of life. Schedule an in-person or telepsychiatry evaluation at Royal River Psychiatric Care by phone or online today.

What is obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)?

OCD is a condition affecting thoughts and behaviors. About two in 100 people in the United States have OCD, which is characterized by obsessions (unwanted or repetitive thoughts) and compulsions (ritualistic behaviors).

While not always a cause for concern, OCD could cause distress or negatively impact your job, school, health, or interpersonal relationships. If this is the case, see the mental health specialists at Royal River Psychiatric Care for an evaluation. 

What are the signs of OCD?

OCD may contribute to:

• Fear of germs, dirt, or contamination
• Excessive hand washing
• Not touching doorknobs or shaking hands
• Repeatedly checking for locked doors and/or turned off stoves
• Fear of misplacing or losing things
• Unwanted, forbidden, or aggressive thoughts
• Worrying about yourself or others being harmed
• Being extremely orderly
• Having a strict routine
• Participating in ritualistic behaviors
• Compulsive counting
• Arranging things all facing the same way

Some people with OCD may also struggle with depression, anxiety disorders, substance use disorder (SUD), or tic disorders like Tourette syndrome.

What are the risk factors for OCD?

While the cause isn’t clear, OCD risk factors might include:

• Genetics
• Brain chemistry
• Strep infections
• Childhood trauma
• Stressful life events
• Learned behaviors
• Certain personality traits

You may have an increased chance of OCD if you have an immediate family member with the same condition. 

How is OCD diagnosed?

The expert Royal River Psychiatric Care team completes the following to help identify OCD or other mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

They often complete the following:

• Comprehensive psychiatric evaluation
• Diagnostic assessment using DSM-5 criteria
• Risk assessment for suicide/self-harm
• Cognitive and behavioral assessment

During a mental health evaluation, your Royal River Psychiatric Care provider discusses your medications, mental health history, and lifestyle. They evaluate your thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and moods to create a personalized treatment plan. 

How is OCD treated?

Treating OCD at Royal River Psychiatric Care might consist of:

• Exposure and response prevention (ERP)
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
• Dialectical-behavioral therapy (DBT)
• Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)

• Medication management
• Lifestyle and wellness counseling
• Individual psychotherapy
• Group therapy
• Family therapy
• Stress management
• Crisis intervention counseling

You can meet with the Royal River Psychiatric Care team in person or via telepsychiatry to effectively manage OCD symptoms and rediscover joy, happiness, and calm.

Schedule an in-office or virtual OCD evaluation at Royal River Psychiatric Care by calling the office or booking an appointment online today.