The presence of utterly intrusive thoughts and obsessions in a person’s life that leads to maladaptive behaviors and problems adjusting in daily life activities is recognized as Obsessive Compulsive Disorders.
These problems have an abrupt onset, with no explorable cause during its early intervention. To explore the details involved, we share a case study today so our readers can explore and learn about the disorder from a real time situation.
Explore SJ’s journey with us, alias for a 31 year old male, who approached Tulasi Healthcare with primary reported symptoms of persistent anxiety, intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors that were present for a span of 8 years (2012-2020) and constantly escalating since then. His case file is a testament of our persistence in finding the root cause of your issues and providing a holistic solution to it.
As per the details, the client belonged to a middle socio economic status, unmarried and was a doctor by profession. The symptoms stated were rendering him unable to focus on his tasks as a caregiver. The daily functioning and quality of life were deteriorating at a steep pace.
The client had no reported history of psychiatric illnesses in the family, and the presenting problems were persistent since the last decade.
-Speech Audible, responded properly to questions
-Reaction time recorded was normal
-Had an adequate productivity, coherent and goals directed relay of thoughts
-The tone and pitch of his voice was normal and within range
-Thought content reflected fears of dirt and contamination.
-No perceptual disturbances were present
-Judgment was intact
-Insight level- Grade 3
Reported Symptoms– Chief complaints included persistent anxiety, intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors.
Obsessive symptoms– these involved concerns relating to waste and secretions, dirt and contamination, persistent doubts regarding right and wrong, morality, lucky and unlucky numbers.
Compulsive symptoms– Repeated checking of locks, geyser, switches and other electronic devices. The client used to inspect the clothes before wearing, check the chairs before sitting. Had ritualized showering and tooth brushing.
-The rituals were acquiring a lot of productive time, which caused his daily functioning to be hampered.
-His overall productivity at work declined
-He constantly withdrew from social interactions and avoided gatherings and public places in fears of contracting a contamination
Now that SJ’s condition is properly assessed and identified, building a treatment plan will be easy and informed. With our team of experts specializing in various formats of therapy, we designed a comprehensive care approach for SJ.
Let’s take a look at the treatment plan-
Brief component breakup-
Brain Stimulation Techniques– Since SJ was facing this issue for more than a decade, introducing brain stimulation techniques was deemed necessary to get rid of the issue from the root.
Holistic management plan– Holistic activities like yoga and mindfulness were also prescribed to put an emphasis on positive and present thoughts, This helped the client become aware of their thought flow and ways to manage it.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy– This modality here was mainly focused on controlling SJ’s activities and scheduling. Our therapist asked him to prepare a daily ritual record that helped him gain insight into his patterns and work upon them. Psychoeducation was also provided to make them aware of the expected challenges during OCD treatment. A proper obsession, compulsion and anxiety graph was drawn out to explain the length of an OCD cycle and help SJ manage through these ebbs and flows.
Exposure and Response Prevention– This involved exposing SJ to different situations that entice a response because of his obsessions and prevented him from engaging in corresponding compulsions. SJ was also made aware about cognitive distortions, which were eventually challenged and managed through cognitive restructuring.
Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation– Since the symptoms persisted for a longer period of time, the client was suggested to take 30 sessions of dTMS, which targets specific parts of the brain that are responsible for onset of OCD. SJs condition improved dramatically over the course of 30 sessions.
Recovery is not always an easy task. SJ faced his fair share of challenges, but our staff at Tulasi healthcare were supportive and understanding at every step of his journey. With care, compassion and patience, SJ was able to cope with his treatment in a matter of a few weeks.
Initially, he faced issues in understanding the goals of his therapy and actually coping with the mechanisms that were discussed. But afterwards, the small steps of encouragement and gradual growth led to a transformational change in his condition.
SJ has slowly transitioned to aftercare planning, where he is doing well with the resources provided and joining group sessions where he can cope and address any further problems he faces.
Overall, SJ showed gradual improvement and reported reduced frequency of his compulsions. He especially felt a drastic change with ERP and dTMS treatment. His anxiety levels decreased and began to re-engage in activities he had previously avoided.
Through this case, we project that we as caregivers highly prioritize your health and well-being, taking every aspect of your life into consideration. As one of the best psychiatric hospitals in Delhi, we believe in providing the best of care and support to our clients.
We hope this case gives you an insight into your issues and prompts you to take a step towards your well being today. To know more about OCD treatment and its related issues, visit our healthcare facility today.
Leave a comment