Treatment Resistant OCD

Treatment Resistant OCD services offered in Sandy Springs and Alpharetta, GA

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disabling illness affecting approximately 2–3% of individuals worldwide that are marked by recurrent, distressing intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or compulsions. Treatment-resistant OCD is usually considered when a patient does not respond to or tolerate at least 2 different medications. In conjunction with your primary care physician, Dr. Giles will work with you to create a plan that will succeed in breaking through your treatment-resistant OCD. To find out more, call Breakthru Psychiatric Solutions in Sandy Springs or Alpharetta, Georgia, or book online today.

What is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health disorder that affects people of all ages and walks of life and occurs when a person gets caught in a cycle of obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that trigger intensely distressing feelings. Compulsions are behaviors an individual engages in to attempt to get rid of the obsessions and/or decrease distress.

According to the International OCD Foundation, many people have obsessive thoughts and/or compulsive behaviors at some point in their lives, but that does not mean that we all have “some OCD.” In order for a diagnosis of OCD to be made, this cycle of obsessions and compulsions must be so extreme that it consumes a lot of time (more than an hour every day), causes intense distress, or gets in the way of important activities that the person values.

How is OCD treated?

The most effective treatments for OCD are Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and medication. More specifically, the most effective treatments are a type of CBT called Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), which has the strongest evidence supporting its use in the treatment of OCD, and a class of medications called serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs.

For those that have tried multiple types of therapy and medications but are still struggling with symptoms, interventional therapies might be the best course of action.

What is Treatment-Resistant OCD?

Up to a third of people with OCD have what is called treatment-resistant OCD, which means they do not respond to standard treatments like medication and psychotherapy.

In this instance, patients might consider interventional therapies.

How is Treatment Resistant OCD Treated?

Breakthru Psychiatric Solutions will work in conjunction with your primary psychiatrist, PCP, or psychologist to offer interventional therapies for treatment-resistant OCD, including:

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)*

TMS uses magnetic fields to stimulate sections of your brain. Dr. Giles puts an electromagnetic coil on your head, which sends out pulses that painlessly access the areas of your brain involved in OCD.

IV Ketamine Therapy*

IV Ketamine is an anesthetic that also has a significant effect on OCD. Ketamine therapy involves having an intravenous (IV) line in your arm. The medication then drips steadily into your bloodstream over the next 30 minutes.

To find out how you can overcome treatment-resistant OCD, call Breakthru Psychiatric Solutions today or book an appointment online.

**All interventional treatments for OCD are not eligible for insurance coverage and are cash-pay only.

***Dr. Giles does not do medication management and offers the interventional therapies listed above in conjunction with the support of your primary psychiatrist or PCP.