Young man with treatment-resistant OCD
Question:
(Note: I am writing this for the mother of a young man who suffers from severe OCD.) HELP!! I am a desperate mother of a 27 year-old son who appears to have "treatment resistent" Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (also thought to have a form of Bi-Polar) and suffers from severe colitis. Since diagnosed in 1993 at age 22, he has been treated by some of the most reputable MDs and psychologists in the field of OCD through both medication and behavior therapy (inpatient and outpatient). However, 5 years later, he still remains mentally and somewhat physically disabled — literally, a prsioner in his own home, and no longer employed. Symptoms and rituals include: Symmetry, checking, fear of mistakes, especially in regards to money, such as writing checks and signing his name, unable to commit to or keep appointments (numerous cancelled Dr. visits). Obsesses with personal and bathroom hygiene habits (taking as long as 2-4 hours at times) so that to avoid the anguish and frustration, he often goes 5 or 6 days without bathing or shampooing. With introduction of each new OCD drug, patient responds well for first 8-10 weeks. Then medicine seems to quit, and condition reverts back to original status. Desperately seeking doctor who has successfully treated this. Please respond! Going Crazy "Cell"-Block E
Response:
>Since diagnosed in 1993 at age 22, he has been treated by some of the most >reputable MDs and psychologists in the field of OCD through both medication and >behavior therapy (inpatient and outpatient). However, 5 years later, he still >remains mentally and somewhat physically disabled — literally, a prsioner in >his own home, and no longer employed.
I’m 18 and since I was diagnosed with OCD 4 years ago, I have gone through a lot of the same things, and like your son who couldnt be employed anymore, I had to stop going to school this year although I had great results. I found a part time job but was fired after 2 weeks because the boss couldnt stand my rituals due to OCD, and since then, I found nothing to do because of that. >Symptoms and rituals include: >Symmetry, checking, fear of mistakes, especially in regards to money, such as >writing checks and signing his name, unable to commit to or keep appointments >(numerous cancelled Dr. visits). Obsesses with personal and bathroom hygiene >habits (taking as long as 2-4 hours at times) so that to avoid the anguish and >frustration, he often goes 5 or 6 days without bathing or shampooing.
I have the fear of mistakes and am often depressed for years when I do one, and as for going 5 or 6 days without bathing, I think I know what the problem may be. I have a kind of "program", which literraly control me, and this, due to my fear of mistakes, let me do just a certain amount of things. If your son doesnt think bathing is essential, it is normal that he goes 5 or 6 days without doing so. By the way, when I would not do something, like shaving for example, for 5 days and someone would told me to do so, I would do it without a problem, so if you ask your son to bath every day, he might do it. However, the day you will not tell him to do so, there is a big probability he will stop doing it. >With introduction of each new OCD drug, patient responds well for first 8-10 >weeks. Then medicine seems to quit, and condition reverts back to original >status.
I know how it feel then. Unfortunately, my doctors never saw it this way and thinks the drugs always work and that if I dont cure, it is because I should have forgot to take some one day(even if I never forgot). >Desperately seeking doctor who has successfully treated this. Please
respond! I’m no doctor, but I hope I helped a bit. Maybee a doctor will answer this too! >Going Crazy >"Cell"-Block E
For any questions, just answer this! I will answer asap. Matthew
Response:
A small percentage of cases of OCD are very unresponsive to treatment. If he had a partial response to medication a combination of medications may be more effective. Behavior therapy is difficult but helps most people with OCD. As a last resort there are some newer brain surgery methods that reduce OCD in some people. Given his treatment failures this might be worth investigating. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -GBAdams wrote: > (Note: I am writing this for the mother of a young man who suffers from severe > OCD.) > HELP!! > I am a desperate mother of a 27 year-old son who appears to have "treatment > resistent" Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (also thought to have a form of > Bi-Polar) and suffers from severe colitis. > Since diagnosed in 1993 at age 22, he has been treated by some of the most > reputable MDs and psychologists in the field of OCD through both medication and > behavior therapy (inpatient and outpatient). However, 5 years later, he still > remains mentally and somewhat physically disabled — literally, a prsioner in > his own home, and no longer employed. > Symptoms and rituals include: > Symmetry, checking, fear of mistakes, especially in regards to money, such as > writing checks and signing his name, unable to commit to or keep appointments > (numerous cancelled Dr. visits). Obsesses with personal and bathroom hygiene > habits (taking as long as 2-4 hours at times) so that to avoid the anguish and > frustration, he often goes 5 or 6 days without bathing or shampooing. > With introduction of each new OCD drug, patient responds well for first 8-10 > weeks. Then medicine seems to quit, and condition reverts back to original > status. > Desperately seeking doctor who has successfully treated this. Please respond! > Going Crazy > "Cell"-Block E
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