OCD

What is OCD?

OCD is a psychological disorder that causes uncontrollable thoughts and repetitive behaviors. The thoughts (obsessions), trigger behaviors that you feel compelled to perform (compulsions).

You may know that your thoughts aren’t reasonable, but you can’t stop them from intruding into your consciousness. Likewise, you realize your behaviors are irrational, but the anxiety and fear created by your obsessions drive you to act out anyway.

In patients with severe OCD, their compulsive behaviors consume hours of their time every day. As a result, OCD interferes with work, school, and your social life.

What types of obsessions might I experience with OCD?

There are many types of obsessive thoughts, so these are a few examples. You may think about being harmed, develop a fear of something specific like germs, or need to keep items in a specific order or position. Many patients obsess over forgetting to lock the door or turn off the stove.

What types of compulsions might I have with OCD?

Compulsive behaviors usually follow the theme of your obsessions. If your unwanted thoughts focus on germs, you may constantly wash your hands. You may need to continuously move or rearrange items even if they were already perfectly in place. Obsessing about locking a door means you continue to check the door even though your head knows it was locked the last time you checked.

How does ketamine treat OCD?

OCD is initially treated with psychotherapy and medications that target symptoms such as depression and anxiety. If your symptoms don’t improve or if they’re severe, you may want to consider ketamine.

Ketamine is an anesthetic and pain-relieving medication with a decades-long history of proven safety. When the dose is lowered, however, ketamine normalizes levels of a brain chemical called glutamate.

Glutamate is directly involved in regulating psychological disorders such as OCD, depression, and anxiety. When ketamine restores the proper balance of glutamate, the symptoms of OCD may improve.

What should I expect during ketamine treatment for OCD?

Your ketamine is delivered intravenously in the office. Dr. Sadighim gives you a slow infusion of the medication, carefully monitoring your dose and your response.

Patients who respond to ketamine often experience rapid results, noticing a significant improvement in symptoms within 24 hours. However, it may take several treatments to feel better, and you’ll need a series of about six treatments to produce long-lasting results.

To learn if you’re a good candidate for ketamine treatment, call Long Island Ketamine Center or request an appointment today.