OCD and Depression

When my son Dan’s obsessive-compulsive disorder was severe, he was barely functioning. He isolated himself from his friends, and could barely move from point A to point B. He’d spend hours at a time either sitting in his “safe” chair or just lying on the floor. Eating a morsel was a struggle.
Not surprisingly, he was diagnosed with depression. Even on a “good” day, when he was somewhat able to go through all the motions of normal living, he was tormented nonstop by obsessions. Who wouldn’t be depressed living like this?
Thankfully, even though he was battling depression, he was still totally invested in beating OCD, and was able to commit himself fully to exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, the evidence-based psychological treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder. As his OCD improved, his depression lessened, and eventually dissipated. This is not an uncommon sequence of events for those suffering from both depression and OCD.
But what if you are dealing with OCD and depression, and your depression overtakes you so much that it hinders your ability to participate in ERP therapy? While the depression might still be a byproduct of living with obsessive-compulsive disorder, treating the OCD before the depression is just not feasible and will likely set you up for failure. In this case, the depression needs to be treated first so that engaging in therapy can be possible.
A good health-care provider can work with you to discuss the best ways to trea...

Source: Psych Central - July 22, 2016 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Janet Singer Tags: Depression Disorders Family General Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Parenting Personal Stories Psychology Psychotherapy Treatment Anxiety Anxiety Disorders Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Erp Generalized Anxiety Disorder Health Ca Source Type: news