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Although there is no guaranteed cure for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), certain treatments can help control or eliminate some symptoms. A combination of psychotherapy and medications is the approach most likely to result in improvement or remission of symptoms. Psychotherapy may take place in an individual or group setting. Cognitive behavior therapy can help patients learn to use different thought patterns and routines that will steer them away from obsessive thoughts and/or compulsive behaviors.

In addition, patients may be asked to participate in a form of exposure therapy known as exposure and response prevention. In this therapy, the patient is gradually exposed to the situation that triggers obsessive thoughts and is taught new coping skills that do not include obsessive-compulsive behavior. For example, patients with a fear of germs may be asked to dirty their hands and then to refrain from washing them for a specific period of time. This pattern is repeated over a long period of time until symptoms gradually decrease in frequency and intensity. The therapist assists the patient in managing any anxiety that is produced during this process. The treatment is sometimes difficult, but it can be a highly effective therapy for patients with OCD, particularly children and adolescents.

Some patients may also benefit from using certain types of medication. Antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or tricyclics are most often prescribed, although some newer antipsychotic medications or monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) may also be recommended. Patients should be aware that a physician will almost certainly need to adjust the dosage and/or change medications to achieve the best results with minimal side effects. In addition, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has advised that antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thinking in some patients, particularly children and adolescents, and all people being treated with them should be monitored closely for unusual changes in behavior or dangerous new thought patterns. However, the benefits of such medications typically outweigh the potential risks.

Other medications that may be used to treat OCD include:

• Antipsychotics. Medications used control hallucinations and delusions due to psychosis. Some of the newer antipsychotics also have an indication for treatment of anxiety. Some obsessive thoughts are closely associated with psychotic phenomena.
  
  
• Mood stabilizers. Medications of various drug classes used to treat fluctuations of mood. For some individuals a mood stabilizer helps to stop the cycle of obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors.
  
  
• Anticonvulsants. Medications used to prevent seizures. Some anticonvulsants have been shown to be effective mood stabilizers.
  
  
• Anti-anxiety medications. Medications used to treat anxiety, tension and agitation. The benzodiazepines, one of the classes of medications used for anxiety, should only be prescribed for a relatively short period of time, usually while other medications are being started to help with a more immediate control of anxious mood.