The Mind's Unwanted Guest: A Deep Dive into OCD

KeywordsOCD, obsessive compulsive disorder, mental health, neurobiology, treatment, psychotherapy, exposure response prevention, SSRIs, anxiety, compulsionsSummaryIn this episode of the Psych Studio Podcast, Dr. Tom Kiely delves into the complexities of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), exploring its classification, symptoms, neurobiology, and effective treatments. He emphasizes the importance of understanding OCD beyond stereotypes, highlighting its neurobiological roots and the impact it has on individuals' lives. The discussion covers the history and epidemiology of OCD, the brain circuits involved, and the evidence-based treatments available, including psychotherapy and medication. Dr. Kiely offers hope for those struggling with OCD, encouraging them to seek help and emphasizing that recovery is possible.Takeaways·     OCD is often misunderstood and misrepresented.·     Obsessions are intrusive thoughts that cause distress.·     Compulsions are behaviors performed to alleviate anxiety.·     OCD is classified as a neurobiological condition.·     The CSTC loop in the brain is crucial to understanding OCD.·     OCD affects about 2.3% of the adult population in the U.S.·     Effective treatment combines psychotherapy and medication.·     Exposure Response Prevention (ERP) is the gold standard for treatment.·     SSRIs are commonly prescribed for OCD.·     Recovery from OCD is possible with the right support.SUBSCRIBE:🔔 Subscribe to access bi-weekly podcast episodes: [⁠PODCAST LINK⁠]GET IN TOUCH WITH DR. KIELY:⁠PRIVATE PRACTICE WEBSITE⁠⁠PSYCHOLOGY TODAY⁠⁠LINKEDIN⁠⁠INSTAGRAM⁠PSYCHOLOGY TODAY:⁠https://www.psychologytoday.com/us⁠SUICIDE AND CRISIS HOTLINE:Dial 988⁠https://988lifeline.org/⁠OCD RESOURCES:⁠https://iocdf.org/ocd-finding-help/other-resources/⁠MUSIC:Rock Your Surfboard: Yeti Musichttps://uppbeat.io/t/yeti-music/rock-your-surfboardLicense code: 343U0UCD8ZHJYTRAmbient Background: Overmusichttps://audiojungle.net/item/ambient-background/57790826License code: 0f780fbf-fa9b-4f4f-a6f9-f728e17ae8b8Summer Pop Lemonade: SonicMoodhttps://audiojungle.net/item/summer-pop-lemonade/53371178License code: 14a92b7e-e924-4c82-9de5-f8aa3518b752Pop Rock Logo: DmitriySimfhttps://audiojungle.net/item/pop-rock-logo/27226150License code: 5424026d-0261-4ca6-9c5d-019f56fe5116