James Greenblatt, MD
James Greenblatt, MD, founder and medical director, Comprehensive Psychiatric Resources, Inc., Waltham, Massachusetts, and author of Finally Focused. JamesGreenblattMD.com
You wash your hands so often that they’re red and raw. Perhaps you repeatedly rearrange the food in your kitchen cabinets so that all items are facing a certain way.
Or you may check over and over again to make sure that your front door is locked. Perhaps you hoard newspapers and other everyday objects until your house is filled with junk—or count to yourself whenever you drive through a stoplight.
If you or someone you know experiences these or similar symptoms, it could be a red flag for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Inside the mind of an OCD sufferer: People with this disorder have disturbing, unwanted thoughts, such as the belief that they are contaminated by germs or are about to be in a horrible car crash. These obsessive thoughts cause intense anxiety that the sufferer attempts to ease with compulsive behaviors (or rituals) such as repeated hand-washing or counting in unusual patterns.
Suffering in silence: For people who have never experienced OCD, the symptoms seem entirely irrational. The irony is, even those who have the disorder know that their thoughts and behaviors are irrational but, for unknown reasons, they just can’t stop them. As a result, people with OCD are usually ashamed of their symptoms and often go to great lengths to hide them from their friends, family or doctor. Unfortunately, more than half of Americans with this disorder never receive treatment.
Even when a person with OCD sees a doctor for it, the condition is very difficult to treat. The conventional approach—usually, an antidepressant and psychological counseling called cognitive behavioral therapy—reduces the severity of symptoms by about 50%, according to research, but achieves complete recovery in only 20% of cases.
New approach: A technique called integrative psychiatry—using conventional treatments and natural therapies such as nutritional supplements—is likely to produce far better results than conventional treatment alone. Best approaches…
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter (brain chemical) that plays a key role in regulating mood, appetite and sleep. Low levels of serotonin are believed to be a contributing cause of OCD. Many factors can reduce serotonin. For example, it’s thought that serotonin levels can be lowered by a diet high in processed foods, sugar and fat…stress…and chronic inflammation.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants help OCD by blocking the absorption of serotonin in the brain, which keeps levels in the body higher. Medication is quite helpful for some OCD patients, while others find that it increases their obsessive thinking.
The integrative approach: Several nutritional supplements boost serotonin and thereby help reduce or eliminate OCD symptoms.
Work with your doctor to determine which of the following supplements (one or more may be recommended) would be the most useful for you. To find an integrative doctor near you, go to IntegrativeMedicineforMentalHealth.com.
Helpful supplements…*
Inflammation anywhere in the body disrupts serotonin metabolism—and people with OCD are often in a state of chronic, low-grade inflammation.
To reduce chronic inflammation…
The toxic gut bacteria Clostridia can generate HPHPA, a compound that disrupts normal brain function. High levels of HPHPA are a feature of many psychiatric diseases, including OCD. If OCD symptoms increase after use of an antifungal or antibiotic (both of which may allow HPHPA growth), ask your doctor about testing for HPHPA.
Your doctor can order a urine test for HPHPA from a lab that specializes in digestive disorders, such as the Great Plains Laboratory, GreatPlainsLaboratory.com, or Genova Diagnostics, GDX.net. If HPHPA is detected, consider trying high-dose probiotics that supply 50 billion to 300 billion CFUs (colony-forming units) daily. Consult your doctor for any additional treatment you may need.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric illness that affects more than 2 million Americans.
The condition is characterized by repetitive, upsetting thoughts (obsessions) and an overwhelming urge to perform behaviors or rituals (compulsions) to help alleviate related anxiety. The cause is unknown, but genetics may play a role.
*Check with your doctor before trying these or any other nutritional supplements. Some may interact with prescription medications or affect medical conditions.