Obsessive-compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition in which a person experiences persistent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and feels driven to carry out repeated actions (compulsions) to relieve the distress those thoughts cause. The cycle is exhausting and self-reinforcing: the compulsion brings only temporary relief, and the obsession returns stronger. OCD is equally common across Asia, affecting roughly 1-3% of populations in Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and throughout South and Southeast Asia.
Medicines used to treat Obsessive-compulsive Disorder
What obsessions and compulsions actually look like
Obsessions are not ordinary worries. They intrude repeatedly and feel alien or shameful, common themes include fears of contamination, harming others unintentionally, symmetry and order, or unwanted sexual or religious thoughts. Compulsions are behaviours or mental acts carried out to neutralise the obsession: hand-washing, checking locks, arranging objects, silently counting, or seeking reassurance. Most people with OCD recognise the behaviour is irrational but feel unable to stop without help.
How OCD is treated
The main evidence-based approach combines cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), specifically exposure and response prevention (ERP), with medication. Several medicines from the antidepressants group are established first-line treatments for OCD. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors are the drug class of choice; options include fluoxetine, sertraline, fluvoxamine, and paroxetine. When those do not produce enough improvement, clomipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant with strong serotonin activity, is often tried. Effective doses for OCD are typically higher than those used for depression, and a full response can take 10-12 weeks.
When to seek help
OCD rarely resolves without treatment, and symptoms tend to worsen under stress. If intrusive thoughts or rituals are taking up more than an hour a day or are affecting work, relationships, or sleep, a mental health assessment is worthwhile. If you are in crisis, the International Association for Suicide Prevention maintains a directory of crisis centres at https://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/.