When faced with comorbid OCD or BD, clinicians often feel confused and overwhelmed. Because OCD can be caused or exacerbated by pharmacotherapy, and psychotherapeutic approaches to OCD may not work in the acute manic or depressive states of BD, doctors are often left in a quandary. We reviewed the literature to determine if existing guidelines-based treatments for BD might be effective in OCD, and if newer agents are available for this comorbidity. It was found that the treatment of this comorbid disorder is often understudied. There is little evidence to support the use of conventional pharmacological and psychotherapy methods for OCD treatment in BD. This review highlights the need to continue research on the treatment options for this common comorbid disorder. If you found any mental disorder in you then you search about mental health psychiatrist near me.
What are the symptoms for both?
Bipolar-OCD coorbidity is the occurrence of both disorders in one person. This phenomenon has been studied extensively. A 1995 study found that more than half the people with bipolar disorder had also suffered from other mental disorders, including OCD.
OCD symptoms can be experienced by people with bipolar disorder, but not necessarily OCD. This is called OCD tendencies. These symptoms may occur when the person has a low or high mood.
A person can have both OCD and bipolar disorder, but they may not experience the same symptoms all the time. OCD comorbidity can lead to bipolar disorder.
- depression episodes — Feeling very sad or low.
- Dramatic and sometimes rapid mood shifts
- Manic episodes Feeling very happy or high
- Recurrent obsessions and compulsions
- Social problems such as social anxiety and social phobias are examples of social problems
- Uncontrollable thoughts of ruminating
You may also experience the following symptoms:
- Higher rates of obsessive thoughts about sex or religion among people with OCD than those without it
- People with OCD have lower ritual checking rates than those without OCD.
- Higher rates of substance abuse in OCD and bipolar patients than those with OCD or just OCD
- depression is more common than OCD or bipolar disorder. There are also more suicide attempts and episodes.
Which treatments are available to treat one condition or both OCD and BD?
Bipolar disorder
Treatment should be long-term and continue even if a person feels well. Bipolar disorder is treated by a psychiatrist. A psychiatrist may recommend a combination therapy and medication.
Bipolar disorder treatment aims to improve mood and reduce symptoms quickly. After achieving this goal, the person should continue to receive maintenance treatment to help manage the disorder and prevent relapse.
OCD
OCD is a long-term disorder that requires long-term treatment, just like bipolar disorder. So, OCD treatment is similar to bipolar disorder. It typically requires a combination of therapy and medication. Best ocd treatment centers near me are good option for ocd treatment.
OCD usually treated with antidepressants like:
- clomipramine (Anafranil)
- fluozetine (Prozac)
- fluvoxamine
- paroxetine – Paxil, Pexeva
- sertraline (Zoloft)
Doctors may prescribe antidepressants or antipsychotic medication. Exposing a person to an obsession or feared object and helping them to manage their anxiety is the goal. ERP designed to help the individual manage their compulsions.
OCD and BD Both conditions should treated
Experts agree that stabilizing mood is the first step in managing bipolar disorder or comorbid OCD. Multi-medicinal treatment may be necessary, including lithium with anticonvulsants and atypical antipsychotics such as apripiprazole ( Abilify).
However, when these two conditions are present together, doctors must also diagnose the type and severity of the bipolar disorder. A doctor might recommend cautiously adding another treatment to type 2 Bipolar Disorder. They may recommend antidepressants that are effective in treating both OCD and depressive symptoms. These medications have a low chance of causing a manic episode.
Doctors should be cautious when prescribing medications for both conditions together. Mixing the wrong medications could lead to more severe, unusual, or more frequent symptoms.
