Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

A beautiful image of a brain consisting of multiple competing brightly colored coils

  • You will often hear people casually say, “I have OCD” , often meaning they have a preference for things being orderly but what does OCD mean to a psychiatrist?

    Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder involves unwanted thoughts, images or urges that appear at unwanted times and cause significant distress or anxiety. Often, the only way to make the thoughts go away is to carry out an action.  These actions are often repetitive, such as hand washing, counting or checking and take up more than 1 hour of the day, most days.  OCD symptoms can cause significant distress and impact how well people can get on with their lives.

  • Working with a doctor who has experience and expertise in treating OCD is the best start.

    There are many medical causes for these symptoms and it is important to see a doctor who can complete a medical evaluation to rule out another medical condition, which can be treated. When other causes have been excluded, an experienced psychiatrist can help work with you to make a personalized, focused treatment plan to address these debilitating symptoms and help you to move forward with life.

    Treatment commonly involves a combination of individual therapy and medication. The good news is that treatment can be highly effective, with the right support.

    If these symptoms are impacting you and your life, or if you would like to learn more, schedule an appointment with Dr Kennedy today.

    Click here to schedule and take the first step in treatment.

  • The National Institute of Mental Health has provided a patient information guide to Anxiety disorders. Click here to download this guide, free of charge, direct from their website.

    (Dr. Nigel I. Kennedy MD PhD is not responsible for the content of external websites)

As a specialist psychiatrist, Dr. Kennedy has extensive clinical experience in treating anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorders. Treatment commonly involves medication management to treat the symptoms of anxiety and psychotherapy to identify and treat any underlying psychological issues that may be contributing to symptoms. The first session is an extensive evaluation to confirm the diagnosis and to explore options for treatment. Click here to arrange a brief courtesy call or to schedule an appointment.