Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Doctors
What Type of Doctor to See
Some people with OCD may need help from both a psychiatrist (who is a board-certified physician with specific training in mental health) and from a psychologist or licensed therapist trained specifically in CBT/ERP therapy.[1] Given the evolving understanding of OCD, seeking out a mental healthcare provider that has specific experience treating OCD is recommended.
One way to find a psychiatrist is to check with the Doctor Finder from this website.
Questions for Your Doctor
It's a good idea to ask questions of your psychiatrist and/or therapist before beginning to work with them, to be sure you feel comfortable and will get the help you need. This can be done through a phone conversation or, in some cases, an introductory visit. Personal recommendations from other patients are particularly useful.
If you feel you might have OCD, some questions to consider asking a prospective psychiatrist are:
- How many OCD patients have you treated? Do you feel the treatments were successful?
- What types of therapy do you use for your patients with OCD?
- Do you have specific training in CBT/ERP for OCD?
- Will you work with my psychologist/therapist to coordinate my CBT/ERP with my medication regimen if one is prescribed?
"The first psychiatrist I saw didn't really understand the OCD herself and thought it was something that had to do with my willpower. That was frustrating, because I know I can't control my OCD, and I know it's a real disorder that can be treated.
It takes a while to find the right doctors and treatment plans because sometimes even the doctors don't know about your internal struggles.
An OCD self-test that I could print out and give to my doctor would help me to explain my symptoms."
- Amanda O.
References:
- ^ American Psychiatric Association; Koran LM, et al. Practice guideline for the treatment of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry. 2007;164(suppl):1-56.
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