All articles tagged with #ocd
A review indicates that psychedelics, especially psilocybin, show promise for treating OCD, while cannabis does not, due to differences in how they interact with the brain. Clinical trials with psilocybin have shown positive results, but research faces legal and methodological challenges.
A woman shared her experiences living with a partner with OCD, highlighting the challenges and the importance of understanding, proper treatment, and setting boundaries in relationships affected by OCD. The article emphasizes that while OCD can strain relationships, with support and professional help, fulfilling partnerships are possible.
The number of young people aged 16-24 reporting OCD symptoms in England has more than tripled over the past decade, making OCD the second most common mental health disorder in this age group. Despite increased awareness and some government efforts to improve services, many face long waits and limited access to effective treatment, with some families resorting to private care or experimental procedures. Experts warn that societal pressures, social media, and the COVID-19 pandemic have contributed to the rise, highlighting a significant mental health crisis among youth that requires urgent attention and better funding.
McLean clinicians are developing a new model to address childhood OCD, inspired by personal stories and increased awareness of mental health issues, aiming to improve diagnosis and treatment for young patients.
A study by Hebrew University of Jerusalem found that acute trauma from the October 7 massacre can trigger or worsen OCD symptoms, with nearly 40% of survivors showing OCD signs, highlighting the need for holistic treatment approaches that address both trauma and OCD.
Researchers from the University of Amsterdam identified specific neural biomarkers associated with OCD by analyzing brain activity patterns during compulsive behaviors in patients with implanted electrodes, paving the way for more targeted treatments like deep brain stimulation.
A new study suggests that gut bacteria may play a causal role in the development of OCD, identifying specific bacteria linked to increased or decreased risk, which could lead to novel treatment strategies in the future.
A man experiences intrusive, racing thoughts during orgasm, which may be related to OCD, and is advised to consider mindfulness and seek professional help if needed. The article also discusses safety and considerations around fisting and handling personal items like a cock ring.
NFL player Braden Smith, battling OCD and religious scrupulosity, turned to psychedelic treatments like ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT in Mexico after traditional therapies failed, leading to significant mental health improvements and a renewed outlook on his career and faith.
The article discusses how ChatGPT can inadvertently worsen obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms by reinforcing reassurance-seeking behaviors and enabling compulsive reasoning, highlighting the need for responsible AI use and potential safeguards to protect vulnerable users.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have identified a neural activity pattern that can predict and monitor the clinical status of OCD patients undergoing deep brain stimulation (DBS). This biomarker can guide DBS therapy, improving treatment outcomes for severe, treatment-resistant OCD, and may have broader implications for other neuropsychiatric disorders.
Researchers at EPFL have developed a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called transcranial Temporal Interference Electric Stimulation (tTIS) that targets deep brain regions like the striatum, which are involved in conditions such as addiction, depression, and OCD. This method uses low-level electrical stimulation on the scalp to selectively stimulate deep brain areas, offering a promising new approach for treating these complex neurological disorders with minimal side effects.
The author shares her journey of being diagnosed with OCD and becoming a mental health advocate, only to later question the medical model of mental illness. She discovers that psychiatric diagnoses are subjective constructs and challenges the belief that mental disorders are solely rooted in biological abnormalities. Through experiences with psychedelics, therapy, and introspection, she comes to understand that her suffering is not solely a disease but a complex interplay of personal, familial, and societal factors. She advocates for a more holistic approach to mental health that considers environmental and social influences, rather than solely relying on the medical model.
Julia Hum, a 24-year-old with severe OCD, experienced life-changing improvement after targeted deep brain stimulation. Innovative research allowed doctors to more precisely target a dysfunctional brain circuit, leading to substantial improvement in her symptoms. By mapping nerve networks and adjusting deep brain stimulators, researchers saw significant improvement in three patients, including Hum. This approach, using data from a large number of people, shows promise for more effective treatment of neurological conditions like OCD.
Scientists have used Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) to identify dysfunctional brain circuits responsible for Parkinson's, Tourette's syndrome, OCD, and dystonia, offering a potential path to target the sources of these common brain disorders. This breakthrough could lead to the development of cures or better medications to alleviate symptoms. Additionally, a new gene change in a microprotein called SHLP2 has been discovered, which protects against Parkinson's and could lead to new treatments, offering hope for precision medicine-based therapies for these devastating diseases.