Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- B. Michelle BrazealB. Michelle BrazealThe University of Alabama
- and Gordon MacNeilGordon MacNeilThe University of Alabama
Summary
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a debilitating anxiety problem. This article reviews the characteristics, etiology, prevalence, and assessment of OCD and presents information on the efficacy of psychological, pharmacological, and combined treatments for this disorder. Early intervention that includes pharmacological agents (typically SSRIs) as well as behavioral and cognitive-behavioral psychotherapies (particularly exposure and response prevention) is the preferred method of intervening with OCD.
