Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) - in Brief
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a neuropsychiatric condition characterized by intrusive, distressing thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive, ritualized behaviours (compulsions) performed to alleviate anxiety or prevent perceived harm. Despite public misconceptions, OCD is not simply a preference for order or cleanliness – it is a clinically significant disorder that can severely impair daily functioning, relationships, and overall well-being. Worldwide, between 1% to 3% of the population is affected by OCD.
At JB Private Mental Health, we approach OCD with clinical precision, early diagnostic accuracy, and comprehensive, customized treatment plans designed to support long-term recovery and quality of life.
Read more: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Treatment options include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), specifically Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and pharmacotherapy with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and, in some cases, with atypical antipsychotics.
For treatment-resistant OCD, we coordinate access to neurostimulation therapies such as deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), or, in rare cases, deep brain stimulation (DBS).
Furthermore, integrative and adjunctive care interventions (e.g., sleep optimization, mindfulness training, nutritional guidance, and stress modulation techniques) as well as family and partner psychoeducation help our clients to reduce accommodation behaviours and improve relational dynamics.
JB Private Mental Health is committed to absolute privacy and discretion following a holistic state-of-the-art approach on mental & physical health. Considering psychological, physical, social, and cultural dimensions, we ensure a personalized and optimized service.
Book your first screening today and start your private journey towards excellence in mental and physical health.
Types of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders
While all presentations of OCD are unified by the presence of obsessions and/or compulsions, the content and structure of these symptoms vary significantly.
Common subtypes of OCD include:
- Contamination OCD: Involves fears of germs, illness, or environmental toxins, often leading to excessive washing, cleaning, or avoidance behaviour.
- Checking OCD: Persistent doubts about safety or harm (e.g., doors left unlocked, appliances on) resulting in repetitive checking rituals.
- Symmetry and Ordering OCD: A compulsive need for balance, symmetry, or “just right” feelings, often accompanied by precise organizing or counting.
- Harm OCD: Intrusive thoughts about accidentally or intentionally harming others, often without any intent or history of violence.
- Sexual, Religious, or Moral Obsessions: Unwanted, taboo thoughts related to sexuality, religion, or ethics, typically accompanied by intense guilt or fear of being morally compromised.
- Pure Obsessional OCD («Pure O»): Characterized by mental rituals, such as rumination or reassurance seeking, without overt compulsive behaviours.
Each subtype may be present independently or in combination and often fluctuates over time.
JB Private Mental Health and our partners provide nuanced assessment and continual adjustment of treatment strategy to match symptom evolution.
Key Messages
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a medical condition rooted in brain circuitry.
- With appropriate intervention, most individuals experience significant improvement and can regain control over their lives.
- Early diagnosis and evidence-based treatment are essential in preventing chronicity and functional decline.
- JB Private Mental Health allows for a holistic, private, continuous, and deeply personalized approach to managing OCD and related disorders.
- Recovery is both possible and sustainable – with the right support, individuals with OCD can live productive, fulfilling, and balanced lives.
Typical symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders
OCD can affect individuals across the lifespan and may present subtly or dramatically.
Key features include:
- Obsessions: Recurrent, intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that are distressing and difficult to suppress.
- Compulsions: Repetitive behaviours or mental acts performed to reduce distress or prevent feared outcomes.
- Significant Distress: Symptoms cause marked anxiety, shame, or discomfort.
- Impairment: Occupational, academic, social, or personal functioning is negatively affected.
- Insight: Patients typically recognize that their fears are irrational yet feel limited or powerless to resist the compulsions.
OCD is often comorbid with anxiety disorders, depression, eating disorders, and tic disorders. In high-functioning individuals, symptoms may be concealed or rationalized, delaying diagnosis without a careful, expert evaluation.
Causes & Risk Factors:
The aetiology of OCD is multifactorial, involving a complex interplay of genetic, neurological, psychological, and environmental factors:
- Genetic Predisposition: First-degree relatives of individuals with OCD have a significantly elevated risk.
- Neurobiological Factors: Abnormal activity in the cortico-striatal-thalamo-cortical (CSTC) circuits, particularly involving brain regions such as the orbitofrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and caudate nucleus.
- Neurotransmitter Dysregulation: Imbalances in serotonin and glutamate systems are implicated in OCD pathology.
- Developmental and Environmental Triggers: Traumatic events, perinatal complications, and certain infections (e.g., PANDAS – Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections) may contribute to the development of OCD symptomatology.
- Personality and Cognitive Style: Perfectionism, high moral standards, and intolerance of uncertainty are common psychological traits associated with OCD.
As part of JB Private Mental Health programs and services, we provide comprehensive diagnostic assessments, including neuroimaging (cMRI brain scan, EEG), laboratory tests as well as neurocognitive profiling, to uncover each client’s unique risk constellation.
Treatment Options
OCD is a highly treatable condition, particularly when approached with individualized, evidence-based therapy interventions.
JB Private Mental Health offers access to gold-standard interventions along with advanced and emerging therapies according to the international guidelines.
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): Specifically, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the most effective psychotherapeutic intervention for OCD. It involves systematic, guided exposure to feared stimuli while preventing compulsive responses.
- Pharmacotherapy: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) at higher therapeutic doses (e.g., fluoxetine, sertraline, paroxetine, fluvoxamine) are first-line pharmacological treatments. Augmentation strategies with atypical antipsychotics (e.g., aripiprazole) may be considered for refractory cases.
- Neurostimulation Therapies: For treatment-resistant OCD, we coordinate access to deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), or, in rare cases, deep brain stimulation (DBS).
- Integrative and Adjunctive Care: Sleep optimization, mindfulness training, nutritional guidance, and stress modulation techniques complement core treatment modalities.
- Family and Partner Involvement: Psychoeducation and systems-based interventions help reduce accommodation behaviours and improve relational dynamics.
Our model ensures seamless access to expert care, ongoing monitoring, and proactive treatment modifications, minimizing the burden of trial-and-error that often accompanies standard mental health care.