Does OCD Need Hospitalization for Effective Treatment

Does OCD Need Hospitalization for Effective Treatment OCD Treatment Print Does OCD Require Hospitalization for Effective Treatment? By Owen Kelly, PhD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on August 05, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on April 18, 2019 Eric Audras/Getty Images More in OCD Treatment Causes Symptoms and Diagnosis Types Living With OCD Related Conditions In most cases, no. The majority of people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can be treated very effectively on an outpatient basis by a variety of qualified mental healthcare service providers using either psychotherapy or medication  or a combination thereof. Medications The most common medications used to treat OCD are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Prozac (fluoxetine), Luvox (fluvoxamine), Paxil (paroxetine hydrochloride) and Zoloft {sertraline); serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) like  Celexa (citalopram), Lexapro (escitalopram) and ?Effexor (venlafaxine); and a tricyclic antidepressant known as Anafranil (clomipramine). Psychotherapy Exposure therapy  and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) have been shown to be particularly helpful in the treatment of OCD symptoms. Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Another potential treatment option is repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), which involves placing a magnetic coil on the skull and using electricity to pulse through the device to targeted areas of the brain. This treatment has varied results, but because it is non-invasive and has few side effects, it can be a good option for people with OCD who are not finding relief from conventional methods. When In-Patient Treatment Is Necessary Participation in intensive in-patient treatment programs is reserved for only the most serious cases of OCD. Fortunately, these severe cases comprise the minority of OCD patients. Given the cost and commitment required, intensive in-patient programs are often viewed as a last resort when other treatments have failed. In cases requiring hospitalization, the person is experiencing OCD symptoms ?severe enough to seriously impair their ability to function at work and at home. It is not uncommon for candidates for intensive OCD in-patient programs to have been unemployed for many years and to have serious impairments in their relationships with friends and family. In especially severe cases, the person may not have left their home for days, weeks, months (or longer). Patients requiring in-patient treatment for severe symptoms may spend almost all day engaged in rituals or compulsions. Hospitalization Options Even in cases where patients need a higher level of treatment, there are options such as day programs, intensive outpatient programs, partial hospital programs, and residential programs. Full hospitalization is usually only implemented when patients cannot take care of themselves  or they are dangerous to themselves or others. While the vast majority of hospitalizations for OCD are voluntary, in cases where the person’s symptoms are so severe that they are a danger to themselves or others, for instance, children who are being neglected because of the parents OCD symptoms, they may be hospitalized involuntarily. Suicidal thoughts associated with depression caused by severe and unrelenting OCD symptoms are also a common reason for hospitalization. Laser Surgery As a last resort, the FDA has approved laser surgery to treat patients with severe, treatment-resistant OCD. This procedure targets and burns away parts of the brain in the region known as the  anterior cingulate cortex. Early studies have shown this procedure to be extremely effective for about half the people who have undergone treatment.