Often mistaken for an eccentricity, the diagnosis and treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has come a long way from now being considered a common mental illness. The proof is in the numbers at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) OCD clinic, now celebrating its silver jubilee and said to be unique in this part of the world.
Although the clinic is open for walk-in consultations on Tuesdays, the patient composition consists of 60-70 follow-up patients and 10 new ones. There are two established treatments for OCD: therapy and medication. Cognitive behavioral therapy sessions are 15 to 20 sessions, lasting approximately three months, medications are administered for three to six months depending on severity.
In about six months, NIMHANS will also have a dedicated 20-bed ward for OCD patients, said YC Janardhan Reddy, Head of NIMHANS Department of Psychiatry and OCD Clinic.
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Video: Sudhakara Jain and Deepike KC
Producer: Shibu Narayan
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