Reality of OCD- OCD FAQs

Reality of OCD- OCD FAQs

Tried everything but some thoughts or rituals keep coming back? You might be dealing with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

This OCD FAQ answers the most common questions simply and with evidence-based advice — so you (or someone you care for) can get the right help.

1. What is OCD?

OCD is a mental health condition where people experience obsessions (unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images or urges) and compulsions (repetitive behaviours or mental acts performed to reduce the distress caused by obsessions). These symptoms are time-consuming or cause significant distress or impairment.

2. How common is OCD?

Globally, OCD affects roughly 1–3% of people across their lifetime; recent national surveys estimate about 1.2% past-year prevalence in the U.S. In India the epidemiological data are limited; some surveys report lower estimates (~0.6%) while clinical studies suggest rates similar to global figures — overall, OCD is not rare and often under-recognised.

3. What do OCD symptoms look like? (common themes)

Common obsessions: contamination fears, doubt (e.g., “Did I lock the door?”), harm or aggressive images, sexual or taboo thoughts, excessive concern for symmetry or exactness.

Common compulsions: repeated washing, checking, counting, ordering, or mental rituals (silent counting, repeating phrases). Symptoms vary widely between people.

4. What causes OCD?

OCD likely arises from a combination of genetic, biological, and psychological factors. Brain circuitry differences, family history, temperament, and stressful life events can contribute; researchers continue to study precise causes.

5. How is OCD diagnosed?

Diagnosis is made by a mental health professional using clinical interviews (DSM-5/ICD criteria) and often a severity scale such as the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) to rate symptom severity and monitor treatment progress.

6. What treatments work for OCD?

First-line, evidence-based treatments:

• Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) — a specialised form of CBT that gradually exposes a person to feared thoughts/situations while preventing the ritual/compulsion — is the psychological treatment of choice. Multiple meta-analyses and guidelines support ERP.

• 
  

• Medications: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) at OCD-range doses (and clomipramine in some cases) are effective; SSRIs are usually the first-line medication option. Medication and ERP can be combined when needed. Expect 8–12 weeks to start seeing change on medication; dosing for OCD is often higher than for depression.

  
  

7. If someone refuses therapy or medication, what can families do?

Families can learn supportive, non-judgmental ways to respond: avoid helping with rituals (which can reinforce OCD), encourage evidence-based treatment, and help the person access professional care. Family involvement in ERP can be beneficial when guided by a clinician.

8. What if symptoms don’t respond to first-line treatment?

For partial or non-response, options include: optimisation of SSRI dose and adherence, switching to another SSRI or clomipramine, formal ERP delivered by an experienced therapist, adjunctive antipsychotic medication in selected cases, or referral to specialised services for neuromodulation (e.g., rTMS/DBS) in very treatment-resistant cases.

Discuss risks and benefits with a psychiatrist.

9. How urgent is OCD? When should I seek professional help?

Seek help if obsessions/compulsions:

• take a lot of time each day (>1 hour)

• cause severe distress, disability, or relationship/work problems

• include urges that could harm self/others

• Early assessment improves outcomes — contact a mental health professional or clinical service (psychologist/psychiatrist).

  
  

10. Self-help and immediate steps (practical tips)

• Learn about ERP and avoid accommodation of rituals.

• Keep a symptom diary (what thought, what ritual, how long).

• Start small: practise facing low-level distress without rituals (with professional guidance).

• Avoid shame — OCD is a treatable brain-based condition.

  
  

  For guided help, reach out to Vriddhi’s clinical team for assessment and ERP-focused therapy.

Key takeaways

• OCD = obsessions + compulsions; it’s common and treatable.

• ERP (CBT) and SSRIs are the main evidence-based treatments.

• Use validated scales (Y-BOCS) to measure severity and treatment response..

  
  

If you or someone you care for is struggling with intrusive thoughts or repetitive behaviours, book an assessment with Vriddhi’s mental-health team

“Book an OCD assessment — speak to a therapist experienced in ERP.”

References

1. NICE guideline — Obsessive-compulsive disorder and body dysmorphic disorder.

2. American Psychiatric Association — What is OCD?

3. National Institute of Mental Health — OCD overview & statistics.

4. Goodman et al., Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) development.

5. Reid et al., 2021 — Meta-analysis: CBT with ERP effectiveness.

6. Kayser et al., 2020 — Pharmacotherapy and options for treatment-resistant OCD.

7. Reddy YCJ, 2010 — Overview of Indian research into OCD (prevalence notes).

This article is written and reviewed by Dr. Pavitra, MD Psychiatry (Delhi University), Consultant Psychiatrist, New Delhi.