TMS for OCD

OCD, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, is generally a two part mental disorder involving intrusive thoughts and compulsions. OCD begins with intrusive thoughts. The intrusive thoughts are the “obsession” part of OCD, and can lead one to feel fear, disgust, anxiety, guilt or other distressing emotions. In order to relieve oneself from these distressing feelings, individuals sometimes develop “compulsions.” Compulsions are the part of OCD, which are defined as physical or cognitive behaviors that are performed most often in a ritualistic, routine way in order to relieve oneself from the distressing feelings brought on by the obsessions. These compulsive behaviors tend to relieve the stress or anxiety temporarily and will begin again when the intrusive thoughts enter one’s mind again. The intrusive thoughts or “obsessions” are typically not desired by an individual but they are incapable of controlling them. Patients therefore end up in a looping pattern, performing their compulsive behavior over and over again due to the repetitive intrusive thoughts. Some patients may also avoid certain situations or scenarios that could trigger their obsessions.

Individuals may obsess over a variety of thing and below are some common obsessions:

Obsessive fear of contamination from dirt, germs, sticky substances, household cleaners or environmental contaminants.
Aggressive Obsession, an individual fears harming themselves or others.
Obsessive doubts about daily activities. An individual may obsessively fear not turning off the lights, locking the door or turning off the iron.

Symptoms of OCD

Symptoms of OCD can be difficult to detect because there are many routines that are performed by individuals that are not life intrusive. However, when routines become compulsions that interfere with work, social-life or day-to-day function, this can lead to a poor quality of life. Individuals with OCD may spend an hour to several hours a day suffering with obsessions or engaging in compulsive behaviors. These compulsive activities may need to be performed several times a day every day, and an individual is powerless over them. However, they are compelled to perform these compulsions because these rituals are an escape, and assist in reducing the distressing feelings caused by the obsessive intrusive thoughts. Compulsive behaviors may be a physical or cognitive activity.

Other symptoms of OCD are as follows:

Habits that are repetitive, take a lot of time in the day, and don’t make sense.
Counting and/or checking things repeatedly for fear of harm or danger.
Arranging things constantly for perfect symmetry for fear of something bad happening if things are not arranged a certain way.
Compulsive washing and cleaning for hours a day.
Having made up rituals for doing things. Fear that if rituals are not performed, bad things will happen.
Having a poor quality of life and severe disability because the compulsive behaviors or obsessive thoughts are all consuming.

TMS is a groundbreaking treatment that uses magnetic technology, similar in strength to an MRI machine, to stimulate underactive brain cells in the mood control center. This magnetic stimulation helps modulate brain neurocircuitry to relieve symptoms of OCD. The treatment specifically targets the neurocircuits in the brain which are known to be particularly affected by OCD. TMS for OCD is non-invasive, requires no anesthesia and is an outpatient procedure.

TMS for OCD

Individuals may obsess over a variety of thing and below are some common obsessions:

Symptoms of OCD

Other symptoms of OCD are as follows:

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