OCD Treatment in Pleasant Grove, UT
Groundbreaking OCD Treatment Provides Fast Relief for Patients
Approximately 2.3% of the population has OCD, which is about 1 in 40 adults and 1 in 100 children in the U.S. (Anxiety and Depression Association of America).
Thanks to years of research and new treatment options being made available, with one of those being ketamine infusion therapy, many of those who have OCD are becoming more optimistic about beating this horrible condition.
Ketamine for OCD has a very promising success rate in helping those who are considered treatment-resistant and have not responded well to other medications and therapies. Ketamine also provides relief fast, unlike many of the other medications that can take weeks or months to start working.
What Are The Symptoms of OCD?
Most people with obsessive-compulsive disorder have both obsessions and compulsions, nevertheless it is not unusual for patients to experience just one or the other.
Symptoms of OCD generally begin gradually over time and will vary in seriousness throughout a person’s life, tending to become worse during times of greater stress. The symptoms for this disorder are broken down into a couple of groups and are as follows:
Obsessive thoughts: These obsession symptoms typically intrude other thoughts when you’re trying to do or think about other things and may include:
- Fear of being contaminated by germs or dirt
- Intrusive sexually explicit or violent thoughts
- Fear of having a serious illness
- Fear of causing harm to yourself or others
- Excessive focus on religious or moral ideas
- Fear of losing or not having things you may need
- Needing order and symmetry
- Have superstitions
Compulsive behaviors: These compulsive symptoms are aimed to control the anxiety and stress about obsessive thoughts. These compulsions aren’t usually rationally connected to preventing the feared event.
- Excessive double and triple-checking of things
- Counting, tapping, repeating certain words, or other senseless acts to reduce anxiety
- Repeatedly checking in on loved ones to make sure they are okay
- Spend a lot of time cleaning or washing
- Ordering things “just so”
- Accumulating piles of useless junk
- Asking for reassurance
- Avoiding places or situations
- Checking doors repeatedly to ensure they are locked
- Checking stoves and outlets to ensure they’re off and things are unplugged
- Silently praying, saying a word, or phrase over and over
- Engaging in rituals triggered by religious fear
- Arranging books or other items to face a certain way
How Does Ketamine Help Treat OCD?
It is believed that one of the primary root causes of OCD and various other mood disorders is the overactivity of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor in the human brain. Ketamine serves to help OCD by connecting to the NMDA receptor and obstructing it from being turned on by glutamate, a neurotransmitter, thus helping to mute the effects of OCD symptoms.
By connecting to those receptors, ketamine may have the capacity to increase the number of glutamate neurotransmitters in the empty space between neurons. Glutamate then engages with the AMPA receptors.
Together, these receptors result in the discharge of many different molecules that boost the brain’s neuroplasticity– ultimately, ketamine infusions allow the brain to reset and rejuvenate vital nerve connections.
The Ketamine Experience
During your OCD treatment in Pleasant Grove, UT, we go above and beyond to make sure all of our patients feel as comfortable as possible in their own private rooms. Infusions typically last 45-60 minutes for mood disorders, while infusions for chronic pain conditions require a larger dose.
A number of patients refer to a “dissociative” effect, and most of our patients respond positively to this sensation. In many cases, this dissociation effect is what aids with your treatment and delivers a positive response to ketamine therapy.
These are all ordinary components of the treatment. You will always remain in a safe atmosphere with our team there to monitor you and be readily available during your infusion.
Does Ketamine Really Work?
In one recent ketamine treatment study, it was once again proven that ketamine can provide rapid relief for patients with OCD symptoms.
This is the first randomized, controlled trial to demonstrate that a drug affecting glutamate neurotransmission can reduce OCD symptoms without the presence of an SSRI and is consistent with a glutamatergic hypothesis of OCD.
As the leading ketamine treatment provider in Pleasant Grove, UT, we look forward to helping our patients get back to enjoying the things they love to do with the people they love.
Is Ketamine The Right Treatment for Me?
If you have been dealing with long-term OCD that has not responded well to conventional treatments and medications, then you might be a good candidate for ketamine infusion therapy.
