Howard Hughes, the legendary American business magnate, pilot, and film director, was not just known for his immense success and eccentricities but also for his debilitating struggle with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). As his fame grew, so did the intensity of his obsessions and compulsions, which revolved around an all-consuming fear of germs and an insatiable need for meticulous order.

Hughes’ life was increasingly dictated by his OCD. His obsession with cleanliness led him to extreme lengths to avoid any perceived contamination. He washed his hands compulsively – sometimes until they bled – and used tissues to touch anything from doorknobs to telephones, even instructing his staff to follow his stringent hygiene practices. His fear of germs was so overpowering that he often secluded himself in sealed-off rooms, isolating himself from the world to maintain a sense of control. Despite his tremendous success and contributions to various industries, Hughes’ OCD severely impaired his quality of life.

Hughes’ story offers a glimpse into the life of someone battling severe OCD, highlighting the deep impact this disorder can have on anyone – even the most successful individuals. Fortunately, treatment options for individuals suffering from OCD have come a long way since then. Today, OCD patients can rely on a variety of modern, non-invasive treatments to achieve immediate relief as well as long-term remission of symptoms.

What is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a chronic mental health condition characterized by persistent, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) that an individual feels driven to perform. It affects individuals across various cultures and demographics, and it is classified under anxiety disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). These obsessions and compulsions can significantly interfere with daily activities and cause considerable distress.

What are the Symptoms of OCD?

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a neuropsychiatric disorder marked by a cycle of obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges, or images that are experienced as intrusive and unwanted. They often cause marked anxiety or distress. Common themes include but are not limited to fear of contamination, fear of harm, need for symmetry or exactness, and intrusive taboo thoughts involving sex, religion, or aggression.

Johns Hopkins Medicine outlines compulsions in further detail:

These are repetitive behaviors or mental acts that the person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession, or according to rules that must be applied rigidly. The behaviors or mental acts are aimed at preventing or reducing distress or preventing some dreaded event or situation; however, they are not connected in a realistic way with what they are designed to neutralize or prevent or, they are clearly excessive.

Common compulsions can include excessive cleaning, checking, counting, repeating actions, seeking reassurance, and rumination over a variety of things, such as old memories or one’s own intrusive thoughts.

The severity of OCD symptoms can range from mild to debilitating. In severe cases, obsessions and compulsions can consume many hours of a person’s day, significantly impacting their ability to function in daily life, maintain relationships, and perform at work or school.

What are the Causes of OCD?

The exact cause of OCD is not fully understood, but it is believed to result from a complex interaction of different factors. Genetically, OCD tends to run in families, suggesting a hereditary component. Specific genetic variations are associated with a higher risk of developing the disorder, although no single gene has been identified as the cause.

Neurologically, differences in brain structure and function are observed in individuals with OCD, including abnormalities in areas of the brain involved in regulating primitive impulses, decision-making, and error detection and correction.

The cycle of obsessions and compulsions can be understood through the lens of learned behavior. Individuals may engage in compulsive behaviors to reduce the distress caused by obsessions, and this behavior is reinforced over time, creating a pattern that is difficult to break. Additionally, individuals with OCD may have cognitive distortions, such as overestimating the likelihood of danger or the severity of consequences if their compulsions are not performed and believing they have the power to prevent harm through their actions.

Environmental factors, such as stressful or traumatic events, can trigger the onset of OCD in individuals who are predisposed to the disorder. Many individuals suffering from OCD are affected by high levels of anxiety – the more anxious they feel, the more intense their symptoms may become. Many treatment options focus on helping OCD patients tackle their anxiety and develop coping habits to manage their OCD.

What Types of Treatments are Available?

Treatment for OCD typically involves a combination of psychotherapy, medication, and, in some cases, advanced therapeutic approaches. Psychotherapy, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure and response prevention (ERP), can be an effective treatment for OCD. ERP is a specific technique that involves exposing the individual to the source of their anxiety or obsession in a controlled manner and helping them resist the urge to perform their compulsive behaviors. Over time, this reduces the anxiety associated with the obsessions and the reliance on compulsions to manage that anxiety.

Medications, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are commonly prescribed to help manage OCD symptoms. These medications can help reduce the frequency and severity of obsessions and compulsions by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain. In some cases, tricyclic antidepressants (such as clomipramine) or antipsychotic medications may be used.

However, some individuals may not respond to conventional treatments. In these cases, more advanced therapeutic approaches may be considered. Additionally, support groups and self-help strategies can be beneficial for individuals with OCD. These provide a sense of community, reduce feelings of isolation, and offer practical advice for managing symptoms.

How Deep TMS Helps OCD Patients

Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (Deep TMS) is an advanced, non-invasive technique that has shown promise in treating various mental health conditions, including OCD. This technology works similarly to Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) but penetrates deeper into brain tissue, allowing for more targeted stimulation of neural circuits involved in specific disorders.

What is Deep TMS and How Does it Work?

Deep TMS is a form of brain stimulation that utilizes magnetic fields to modulate neural activity. Unlike traditional TMS, which typically affects superficial cortical areas, Deep TMS reaches deeper brain regions. This is achieved through specialized equipment designed to generate magnetic pulses that penetrate further into the brain.

Deep TMS works through electromagnetic induction. During a treatment session, an electromagnetic coil is placed on the patient’s scalp near the forehead. The coil generates brief, focused magnetic pulses that pass painlessly through the skull and induce electric currents in the brain tissue. These currents can modulate neuronal activity in the targeted brain regions.

Deep TMS mainly targets the key brain areas believed to play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of OCD. By stimulating these regions, Deep TMS aims to normalize the hyperactivity and dysregulation in these brain circuits with the goal of reducing the symptoms of OCD.

How Deep TMS is Used to Help Patients with OCD

Deep TMS has emerged as a promising treatment option for patients with OCD, particularly for those who do not respond adequately to conventional therapies such as medication and therapy. Several clinical trials and studies have demonstrated its efficacy in reducing OCD symptoms.

One key study that highlighted the effectiveness of Deep TMS in treating OCD was conducted by Carmi et al. (2019). In this study, patients with treatment-resistant OCD received daily sessions of Deep TMS over the course of several weeks. The results showed a significant reduction in OCD symptoms in the Deep TMS group compared to the sham group, with some patients experiencing a marked improvement in their quality of life. Patients receiving real Deep TMS experienced an average decrease of 30% in their Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) scores, which is a standard measure of OCD severity.

Another important study by Roth et al. (2021) further supports the efficacy of Deep TMS in treating OCD. This study included 41 participants with moderate to severe OCD who underwent Deep TMS sessions five times a week for six weeks. The results showed that 58% of participants achieved a significant reduction in OCD symptoms, with some experiencing a complete remission of symptoms. The researchers noted that the effects of Deep TMS were sustained over a three-month follow-up period, indicating its potential for long-term benefits. Another research study highlighted that Deep TMS was particularly effective in patients who had not responded to previous treatments, underscoring its value as a therapeutic option for treatment-resistant OCD.

These studies collectively demonstrate that Deep TMS can be a safe and effective treatment for OCD, offering hope to patients who have not found relief through conventional therapies. The non-invasive nature of Deep TMS, coupled with its minimal side effects, makes it an attractive option for patients seeking alternatives to medication or more invasive procedures.

How Deep TMS Treatment Sessions Work

Deep TMS treatment for OCD typically involves a series of sessions, usually administered five times a week over four to six weeks. Each session lasts about 20-30 minutes. During the session, patients remain awake and alert, sitting comfortably while the coil delivers the magnetic pulses. The treatment is generally well-tolerated, with the most common side effects being mild headaches or scalp discomfort, which usually diminish after the first few sessions.

The effectiveness of Deep TMS in treating OCD has been attributed to its ability to induce long-term changes in brain activity. By modulating the neural circuits involved in OCD, Deep TMS can help to reduce the frequency and intensity of obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. Moreover, the non-invasive nature of Deep TMS makes it a viable option for patients seeking alternatives to medication-based treatments.

Getting Help For Your OCD

The symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder may manifest differently in every individual and may not always be obvious or show up in the form of external behaviors. You may simply be struggling with a variety of thoughts in your mind and be constantly distracted by them. This means many individuals may not know they have a form of OCD and may delay seeking professional help. However, there is no shame in asking for help, and the many modern treatment options for OCD mean you do not have to be stuck struggling with this condition without any relief. At APN, you can find a team of skilled mental health professionals who can answer all your questions and help you with the diagnosis and treatment of your OCD, anxiety, and many other mental health conditions.

Plus by APN offers cutting-edge treatment and aims to treat the whole person, not just their symptoms. From in-person or web-based therapy, to deep TMS treatments and more, Plus by APN creates custom treatment plans to keep your OCD symptoms under control. Contact us at 424.644.6486 or complete our online contact form to learn more.

Reference

  • “Patient Information.” Johns Hopkins Medicine, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/psychiatry/specialty-areas/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/patient-information. Accessed 10 July 2024.