Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Long Term Outlook

The Problem

Obsessive-compulsive disorder can be absolutely life destroying for a sufferer. A person who becomes obsessed with checking light switches may lose their job because they are constantly late for work. Relationships can suffer, as any spouse of a tidiness-obsessed sufferer will testify. Intellectual productivity may drop as more and more mental effort is expended on obsessions. A cleanliness-obsessed person may, ironically, suffer health problems because they spend each and every day scrubbing.

However, a serious problem is at least likely to be recognized and treated. The most insidious variants of the disorder are those that are easily disguised, such as mental compulsions. Sadly, not all sufferers will even admit that they have a serious problem. Of those initially referred for treatment, as many as 25% refuse to go through with cognitive-behavioral therapy.

The Good News

Treatment comes in two stages. Firstly, an acute phase aims to cut away the root of the problem. The good news is that within twenty therapy sessions, nearly all patients report a 50%-80% reduction in symptoms. This phase need take no longer than two months in total.

Of course, this time can be very hard, because exposure therapy will necessarily be stressful. The sessions will also leave participants with plenty of ‘homework’ to complete. However, once this first attack on the disorder has been successful, participants simply need the occasional ‘maintenance’ session to ensure that they do not relapse.

Recurrence

Unfortunately, recurrence of symptoms can and does happen. However, this is mostly due to an incomplete treatment program. For example, a sufferer may use Anafranil and experience a reduction in symptoms. When they are offered cognitive-behavioral therapy to complement the drug, they refuse, thinking it too time consuming or painful. If the supply of the drug is stopped, however, they are highly likely to relapse.

Elevated stress levels, too, can be harbingers of a return of symptoms. Most treatment programs include education about relaxation and stress-relief, to ensure that a minor upset does not undo previous work.

Influence of Family and Friends

The influence that family and friends have on the condition of a sufferer should not be underestimated. A stressful home and insincere friends can only increase anxiety levels, making a relapse likely for any former sufferer. Conversely, a solid home environment and a strong network of friends can be all that separates a minor return of symptoms from a full-blown relapse.

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