By Suleiman Tajudeen
CITIZENS COMPASS— …help reduce the risk of OCD symptoms worsening.
Healthy coping mechanisms: Learning healthy coping mechanisms can help manage stress and reduce OCD symptoms.
Supportive environment: A supportive environment can play a role in managing and preventing worsening of OCD symptoms.
School‑based mental‑health programs: Psychoeducation about OCD reduces stigma and promotes help‑seeking (Rogers et al., 2016).
Parent‑focused interventions: Training parents to reduce accommodation (e.g., not participating in rituals) limits symptom reinforcement (Lebowitz et al., 2016).
Stress‑reduction techniques: Mindfulness‑based stress reduction
Management:
Effective management of OCD often involves a combination of psychotherapy, medication, and lifestyle changes. Treatment options include:
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Specifically, ERP is a type of CBT effective for OCD.
Medications: SSRIs and other medications can help manage OCD symptoms.
Lifestyle changes: Regular exercise, balanced diet, and sufficient sleep can help manage symptoms.
Support groups: Joining support groups can provide individuals with OCD a sense of community and help.
Family therapy: Involving family in therapy can improve support and outcomes.
Augmentation Strategies: Adding low‑dose atypical antipsychotics (e.g., risperidone, aripiprazole) improves response in treatment‑refractory cases (Dold et al., 2015).
Serotonin‑Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs): Venlafaxine shows comparable efficacy to SSRIs when the latter are not tolerated (Fineberg et al., 2017).
Clomipramine: Tricyclic agent with strong serotonergic activity; effective but reserved for second‑line use due to side‑effect profile (Koran et al., 2017).
Neuromodulation: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) targeting the supplementary motor area demonstrates modest symptom reduction (Carmi et al., 2019).
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS): FDA‑approved for severe, treatment‑resistant OCD; targets ventral capsule/ventral striatum or subthalamic nucleus (Alonso et al., 2020).
Digital Therapeutics: Internet‑based ERP platforms (e.g., OCD‑IT) and mobile apps (e.g., “OCD Helper”) extend treatment access, showing comparable outcomes to face‑to‑face therapy (Wootton et al., 2021).
Family‑Based Interventions: Psychoeducation and coaching families to reduce accommodation of rituals improve long‑term prognosis (Lebowitz et al., 2020).
Relapse Prevention & Aftercare: Continuation of medication for ≥ 1 year after remission, combined with booster CBT sessions, reduces relapse rates (Hollander et al., 2022).
OCD is a treatable condition, and with the right approach, individuals can manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life. Early recognition, appropriate treatment, and ongoing support are key to managing OCD effectively in Nigeria and globally.
References:
Alonso, P., Cuadras, D., Gabriëls, L., Denys, D., Goodman, W. K., Greenberg, B. D., … & Nuttin, B. (2020). Deep brain stimulation for obsessive‑compulsive disorder: A meta‑analysis of treatment outcome and predictors of response. _PLOS ONE, 15_(1), e0226784.
Cocchi, L., Zalesky, A., Nakae, S., & Shine, J. M. (2022). Immune‑mediated mechanisms in obsessive‑compulsive disorder: A review of clinical and translational evidence. _Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 133_, 104493.
Dr Suleiman Tajudeen is Director, Clinical Psychology, LUTH (Retired) & CEO/Director of Clinical Psychology, Clear Mind Psychological Consult, Km 15, Badagry Expressway, Ojo, Lagos State. +234 803 402 4457
