Treatment focus on obsessive-compulsive disorder
Use the possibilities of the Psychotherapeutic University Outpatient Clinic for diagnostic clarification and treatment!
Our outpatient department specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Our website provides answers to initial questions about obsessive-compulsive disorder and its treatment. For a detailed clarification and more information, we would be happy to arrange a tentative talk with you. Your health insurance will pay for this.
- What are obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms?
- What are the causes of an obsessive-compulsive disorder?
- How is obsessive-compulsive disorder diagnosed?
- How is obsessive-compulsive disorder treated?
- What therapy can we offer you?
The Psychotherapeutic University Outpatient Clinic gives you the support you need and accompanies you on your way. Contact us now: sekretariat-hsa.psych"AT"uni-hamburg.de or +49 40 42838-5374.
What are obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a mental illness in which people suffer from so-called obsessive-compulsive thoughts or compulsive acts, or a combination of both.
Obsessive thoughts are intrusive thoughts, ideas, pictorial images or impulses that occur again and again and are experienced as very stressful or tormenting. They often trigger tension and feelings such as fear, discomfort, disgust, or feelings of guilt. The thoughts of the affected individuals are often perceived as nonsensical or exaggerated or as very contradicting personal attitudes, wishes or values. The content of obsessive-compulsive thoughts is very diverse. For example, it can be about contagion, pollution or order, or about aggressive, sexual or religious content.
Compulsive acts are behaviors or rituals that are carried out again and again, although those affected usually experience them as nonsensical or exaggerated. The compulsive acts are intended to prevent disasters that are often feared or to avert damage to oneself or others. In addition, compulsions are often used to reduce tension and uncomfortable feelings. Affected people usually have a strong urge to perform these acts, which makes it very difficult for them to refrain from or reduce the compulsions. Compulsions come in many different forms. These include control compulsions, washing compulsions, cleaning compulsions, ordering compulsions, collecting compulsions, repetition compulsions or counting compulsions.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder can emerge suddenly or develop slowly. The obsessive-compulsive symptoms are often very time-consuming, can severely impair individual performance and lead to conflicts in social relationships. Overall, obsessive-compulsive disorder often causes severe personal distress and can be a significant impairment in everyday private and professional life.
What are the causes of an obsessive-compulsive disorder?
Several factors usually play a role in the development of obsessive-compulsive disorder. These include, among others:
- Genetic factors. Various scientific studies indicate that genetic and hereditary factors are involved in the development of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
- Unfavorable learning experiences contribute to the development of obsessive-compulsive disorder, e.g. formative or stressful life events or certain upbringing conditions.
- Personality tendencies such as pronounced perfectionism, a high sense of responsibility or low self-esteem can promote the development of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
- Neurobiological changes, i.e. changes in the activation patterns of the brain, also contribute to the development of obsessive-compulsive disorder, such as an increased neuronal response to mistakes.
- Particularly stressful situations and stress factors, e.g. professional or private changes, can also trigger the first appearance or worsening of compulsions.
Why and how obsessive-compulsive disorder developed varies from person to person. In therapy we try to understand the causes of your obsessive-compulsive disorder. This also helps us to plan your treatment and to work out together with you what can be helpful starting points in the therapy.
How is obsessive-compulsive disorder diagnosed?
In order to find out whether there is an obsessive-compulsive disorder or not, a detailed diagnostic work-up is required, in which many different aspects must be taken into account. They include:
- your exact symptoms
- how long these symptoms exist
- how much you feel affected by these symptoms
- whether the symptoms can be explained by other mental or physical illnesses
A personal conversation with a psychologist or (specialist) doctor should take place for diagnostic clarification. Scientifically sound questionnaires, interview and test procedures are used at the University Outpatient Clinic.
Do you suspect you have obsessive-compulsive disorder? Feel free to make an appointment for a detailed diagnosis and subsequent advice on treatment options.
Please get in touch with us: sekretariat-hsa.psych"AT"uni-hamburg.de.
How is obsessive-compulsive disorder treated?
According to current research, the most effective method for treating obsessive-compulsive disorder is cognitive behavioral therapy. Supplementary drug therapy can be helpful or necessary.
Psychotherapy supports you in coping with symptoms and personal change steps. Therapy can help understand how your obsessive-compulsive disorder emerged and what keeps it going. You will be supported in reducing compulsive acts and in dealing with obsessive fears and thoughts. In addition to treating your obsessive-compulsive symptoms, you will also receive psychotherapeutic support with regard to relevant background issues and problems, e.g. if you have a low self-esteem or stressful life circumstances. In addition, other accompanying mental illnesses can be treated with psychotherapy, e.g. depression or anxiety disorders. Psychotherapy can take place as individual therapy or as group therapy. Involving the family or close relatives can also be relevant.
What therapy can we offer you?
In our Psychotherapeutic University Outpatient Clinic, one focus is on the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. We use cognitive-behavioral therapeutic methods, which, according to the current state of research, represent the most effective method for treating obsessive-compulsive disorder. These have already helped many people with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
- We take the time to get to know you, your personal situation and your psychological complaints. This includes, among other things, a detailed diagnosis and a precise understanding of your obsessive-compulsive symptoms.
- Together with you, we look for the causes, explanations and individual starting points for positive changes.
- The focus of the treatment is the so-called exposure with reaction prevention. You will actively deal with your fears and compulsions under therapeutic guidance. In this way you can gain the experience that feared negative consequences do not occur and you can overcome the constraints.
- We support you in coping with symptoms and problems, in dealing with related background factors and in achieving your personal goals.
The Outpatient Clinic is located at the University of Hamburg. Research and teaching is done here on the basics of obsessive-compulsive disorder and effective psychotherapy.
If you are interested in therapy at our Outpatient Clinic, please contact us at sekretariat-hsa.psych"AT"uni-hamburg.de.