Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic mental health condition, including intrusive thoughts (obsession) and repetitive behaviors (compulsion). It disrupts your daily life, but it is highly treatable. Telepsychiatry can manage access to professionals from the comfort of your own home. OCD treatment through online means is capturing its space due to the continuity of follow-up sessions. This provides one of the safest ways to get treatment that you need.
What is OCD?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a mental health condition that involves a mental health word called “obsessions.” In the mental health world, obsession means “reoccurring and intrusive thoughts that cause distress for the sufferer.” Some examples of these thoughts are given below:
- Germs and contamination thoughts
- Harming oneself and others
- Being a sinner or deviant
- Losing control
- Engagement in an illegal act
- Forgetting and losing something valuable
These obsessions are unwanted and unrelated to an individual's personality, so they cause distress. These thoughts keep coming back again and again, so it becomes hard to manage. So, the patient does something odd that he thinks can overcome his distress. Some examples are below:
- Washing hands repeatedly
- Rechecking of the lock of the door or oven buttons
- Arrangement of things in such a way that you think you have control over things
These behaviors become the only thing that can relieve patients from stress. So this becomes a compulsion, a behavior to do the thing compulsively every time they have intrusive thoughts.
Let’s take an in-depth overview regarding obsessive and compulsive thoughts.
Common Obsession in OCD
- Contamination obsession, fear of touching the unhygienic substance
- Unwanted thoughts about sex that are sexual obsession.
- Violent or harmful thoughts
- Religious or moral obsession
- Responsibility obsession
- Excessive concern about someone's sexual orientation
- Perfectionism-related obsession
Common Compulsions in OCD
- Washing or cleaning of hands or other things
- Mental compulsions
- Checking that you will not harm anyone
- Repetition of tasks and body movements
- Doing tasks multiple times
OCD Consultation by Telepsychiatry
Telepsychiatry is online psychiatry that enables patients to connect with health professionals through digital means. It is the modern form of mental health care that offers a comprehensive range of services, including initial evaluation, diagnosis, medication, and follow-up care, all from the comfort and privacy of your own home.
Virtual psychiatry is designed to meet your needs with compassion and efficiency. You can consult with the doctor for online OCD treatment through an online source while you have a busy work schedule or heavy traffic costs. This virtual approach made psychiatric care easy and accessible.
Is My Online Telehealth Visit Private and Secure?
Online psychiatry or online OCD treatment is secure and safe. Even for in-person visits, patient details are digitally saved in EMRs. This way all the patient details, whether online or in-person, are kept private and safe.
For online consultations, most of the platforms use Zoom, a well-known video conferencing application. Zoom is secure and HIPAA compliant. All applications used for psychiatry are fully HIPAA-compliant. This ensures that your personal health information and medical history is encrypted, secure, and never shared without your consent. All sensitive issues, managing mental health conditions, and discussions are protected at all times.
What are the minimum HIPAA requirements?
Any data that is stored or transferred, including video, audio, and email, must be encrypted. Video conferences include encryption. Some different types of encryptions are FIPS, ISDN, AES, and VPN. Providers must offer a business associate agreement (BAA), which is a contract between two parties to outline their shared responsibility to protect their data. This is satisfactory for HIPAA regulations and creates liability between both parties.
Who Might Not Be a Good Fit for Telepsychiatry?
Telepsychiatry is not a good fit for everyone. Following complications urges individuals to pursue walk-in services.
- Complex psychiatric conditions necessitate regular monitoring and treatment with a need of in-person visits to the mental health expert.
- Patients who are prescribed controlled substances.
- When a provider thinks that in-person consultation is more compulsory and more beneficial than telepsychiatry.
Treatment Options for OCD
OCD is a chronic mental health disorder that cannot be completely cured but can be effectively managed with the right help. OCD is a manageable mental health disorder. Symptoms of which can be managed quite successfully. OCD treatment plans include medication and therapies by OCD treatment centers. Anxiety treatment centers use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure and response prevention (ERP) for treatment.
The following is the best way to treat the OCD:
Medication
Several medications are used for OCD treatment and other mental health conditions. After online consultation, professionals assist in your treatment process. The medication changes as your health progresses through your treatment plan and begins to show results. In some cases, medication may not be needed.
If you have been diagnosed with OCD or believe you are showing signs and symptoms of OCD, you may visit OCD treatment centers. Online OCD treatments are also the best treatments for OCD that are the most convenient, effective, and accessible.
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