Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)

The main symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder are unpleasant thoughts and repetitive behaviours that you cannot control.

Obsessive compulsive disorder is usually treated with talking therapies. Medicines may help if your symptoms are severe.

If you have OCD, you'll usually experience frequent obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours.

• An obsession is an unwanted and unpleasant thought, image or urge that repeatedly enters your mind, causing feelings of anxiety, disgust or unease.
• A compulsion is a repetitive behaviour or mental act that you feel you need to do to temporarily relieve the unpleasant feelings brought on by the obsessive thought.

For example, someone with an obsessive fear of being burgled may feel they need to check all the windows and doors are locked several times before they can leave their house.

Women can sometimes have OCD during pregnancy or after their baby is born. Obsessions may include worrying about harming the baby or not sterilising feeding bottles properly. Compulsions could be things such as repeatedly checking the baby is breathing, and intrusive, unwanted and unpleasant thoughts, images or urges. These can cause anxiety and lead to repetitive behaviours.

If you keep getting these thoughts and they have an effect on your daily life, speak to your GP or health visitor. They can support you or refer you to a specialist mental health team if you need it.

There are some effective treatments for OCD that can help reduce the impact it has on your life.

The main treatments are:

• talking therapy – usually cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which helps you face your fears and obsessive thoughts without "putting them right" through compulsions
• medicine – usually a type of antidepressant medicine called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which can help by altering the balance of chemicals in your brain

CBT will usually have an effect quite quickly. It can take up to 12 weeks before you notice the effects of treatment with SSRIs, but most people will eventually benefit.

If these treatments do not help, you may be offered:

• an alternative SSRI
• a combination of an SSRI and CBT
• an antidepressant called clomipramine

Some people may be referred to a specialist mental health service for further treatment.