Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health disorder characterized by undesirable thoughts (obsessions) that are managed through repetitive behaviors (compulsions). While the nature of these obsessions and compulsions can present differently among those suffering from the disorder, those diagnosed with OCD share patterns of behavior called the OCD cycle, which temporarily manages and alleviates the anxiety. Temporary relief from obsessions is often not enough for those who experience OCD, and those suffering from the disorder may feel shame, anxiety, or frustration around their condition. Thankfully, advances in medical technology are helping OCD patients find new ways to mitigate and control the symptoms of their illness and take back control of their lives.
The OCD cycle is typically broken into four components: obsession, anxiety, compulsion, and relief. Explore these four parts, and then discover how BrainsWay Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (Deep TMSTM) technology offers a novel way to break the OCD cycle.
While many people may think about unpleasant ideas from time to time, obsession in those suffering from OCD is characterized by long-lasting thoughts that are intrusive, can’t be alleviated by distractions, and often impact quality of life. These thoughts may present differently from patient to patient but are often themed around a specific fixation such as cleanliness, order, aggression, or self-harm. Examples can include a fear of contamination, impulsive needs to act on violent behavior, or the desire to act inappropriately in public. In the most extreme examples, those suffering from OCD feel tremendous internal conflict against these desires, knowing that they cannot behave in this manner. The inability to alleviate these thoughts leads to acute anxiety and may cause avoidant behavior.
To manage these unpleasant thoughts, individuals suffering from OCD exhibit compulsive and irregular patterns of behavior that provide temporary relief from the anxiety that they produce. Examples of compulsive behavior vary dramatically but may include counting in certain patterns, strict routines, excessive hand-washing or cleaning, repetition of words or phrases, or arranging and ordering objects in specific ways. Taken alone, many of these compulsive behaviors may appear harmless. But for many suffering from severe OCD, the cycle of obsessive-compulsive behavior can be debilitating and time-consuming, offering only temporary relief from the intense anxiety that it produces.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder typically emerges during young adulthood but has been seen in teenagers and children. While the cause of OCD isn’t fully understood, genetics play a key feature in the disorder. Obsessive fears and compulsive behavior can also be a learned trait passed from caregivers to children with no biological origin. Traumatic life events have also been known to increase the risk of OCD, and the disorder can be related to anxiety disorders, depression, substance abuse, and nervous tics. OCD is considered to be a life-long disorder, and symptoms can often grow stronger during periods of intense stress. While obsessions and compulsions may change over time, the anxiety that the mental disorder produces and the need to alleviate it through regimented behavior patterns remains a constant feature of those suffering from OCD.
For most cases of OCD, a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and medication is prescribed. CBT is a type of therapy designed to help people manage OCD by altering their responses to thoughts and behaviors and typically employs Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) in outpatient settings. In this modality, patients are exposed to triggering thoughts in a controlled setting, and clinicians work with OCD patients to develop coping mechanisms that reduce the anxiety that they feel. While it cannot completely eliminate the stress felt around triggering thoughts, patients can learn to control their obsessive thoughts and break the cycle of compulsion that prevents them from living fuller lives. Clinicians may try several types of medications to find which works best for patients at the lowest doses. Antidepressants are commonly prescribed. For some severe cases of OCD, outpatient therapy and medication are not enough. While inpatient programs and surgical procedures have often been used as a last resort, Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation offers a better way of managing previously untreatable cases of OCD and is changing the quality of life for patients. Brainsway Deep TMS treatment is the first noninvasive device FDA-cleared to treat OCD. Utilizing magnetic fields produced by our patented H7-coil, it safely activates neural activity in brain structures related to OCD. Clinical studies have indicated that more than one in three treatment-resistant OCD patients have responded positively to the treatment. No adverse side effects were found in any of the patients.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a debilitating mental health condition that triggers anxiety and reduces the quality of life of those experiencing OCD cycles. While therapeutic interventions have proven to be effective, BrainsWay Deep TMS offers a new alternative for those managing previously untreatable cases of OCD. Are you looking to get control over your OCD? Find a Deep TMS provider near you and discover how BrainsWay Deep TMS can help you start living a better life.
