
Some people with severe, long-term and difficult-to-treat OCD may be referred to a national specialist OCD service. Further treatmentįurther treatment by a specialist team may sometimes be necessary if you've tried talking therapy and medicine and your OCD is still not under control. They will help you weigh up the risks and benefits so you can decide on the best treatment for you and your baby.įind out more about help for mums with OCD on the Maternal OCD website. Speak to your GP if you are pregnant or become pregnant while taking an SSRI. This is because there may be a risk to your baby. SSRIs are not usually recommended during pregnancy, particularly during the first 3 months (1st trimester). Most side effects improve after a few weeks as your body gets used to the medicine, although some can persist. If this happens, contact a GP or go to your nearest accident and emergency (A&E). There's also a very small chance that SSRIs could cause you to have suicidal thoughts or want to self-harm.

Your dose may need to be increased again if your symptoms return. Treatment will be stopped gradually to reduce the chance of getting side effects. You may be able to stop if you have few or no troublesome symptoms after this time, although some people need to take an SSRI for many years.ĭo not stop taking an SSRI without speaking to your doctor first because suddenly stopping can cause unpleasant side effects. Most people need treatment for at least a year. You may need to take an SSRI for up to 12 weeks before you notice any benefit. The main medicines prescribed are a type of antidepressant called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). An SSRI can help improve OCD symptoms by increasing the levels of a chemical called serotonin in your brain. You may need medicine if talking therapy does not help treat your OCD, or if your OCD is fairly severe. If you have more severe OCD, you may need a longer course of treatment.

People with fairly mild OCD usually need about 8 to 20 sessions of therapist treatment, with exercises done at home between sessions. The treatment may be hard work, but many people find that when they confront their obsessions, the anxiety eventually improves or goes away. encouraging you to face your fears and have obsessive thoughts without neutralising them with compulsive behaviours you start with situations that cause the least anxiety first, before moving on to more difficult thoughts.working with your therapist to break down your problems into their separate parts, such as your thoughts, physical feelings and actions.Therapy for OCD is usually a type of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) with exposure and response prevention (ERP). Find out more about talking therapies on the NHS Talking therapy
