Psychiatria pre prax 3/2008

TREATMENT OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is the forth most common psychiatric disorder (following phobic disorder, abuse of substances and recurrent depressive disorder) with the beginning in childhood or adolescence. OCD is usually severe chronic illness with a waxing and waning course, having obsessions and/or compulsions as main symptoms. Despite its typical clinical symptoms it takes about 17 years to give the patients the proper diagnosis. The most effective treatment are SRI´s (Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) and Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment (CBT). The treatment is long-term, quite often life-long.

Keywords: obsessive-compulsive disorder, pharmacotherapy, cognitive-behavioral treatment