Obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, is an anxiety disorder associated with unreasonable thoughts, or obsessions, and ritualistic behaviors, or compulsions. Ritualistic and repetitive behaviors are executed in an effort to relieve the anxiety. Traditionally OCD has been treated with the class of drugs known as the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs.
Symptoms of OCD
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is characterized by recurring unwanted thoughts or obsessions that cause anxiety. In an effort to relieve this anxiety, a person is driven to commit compulsive behaviors. Often, the obsessions and compulsions revolve around a theme. Common examples include the need for everything to be orderly and symmetrical and the fear of contamination or dirt. People who are suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder often recognize that their thoughts are unreasonable and may try to ignore them, causing more anxiety.
SSRIs
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are a class of psychotropic medication used mostly to treat depression and anxiety disorders. Scientists think they exert their effects by making serotonin available for an extended period of time to cells that use it for communication in the brain and nervous system. Examples of SSRIs include Prozac, Zoloft and Celexa.
Inositol
Inositol is a sugar alcohol that is closely related to glucose. Inositol is found within the cell membranes of virtually all living organisms and is therefore present in the diet at a concentration of about 1 mg/day on average. European folk medicine gives inositol credit for treating mild depression and chronic fatigue syndrome. Inositol has been studied in the scientific community for its effects on panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Inositol in Treatment
Several scientific studies have shown that a daily dose of 18 mg of inositol is effective at reducing anxiety associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder in patients who are not receiving any other drug-related treatment. The results of inositol treatment show that inositol has a similar efficacy to that of SSRIs. However, a combination of SSRI drug therapy and inositol treatment has not been shown to have any significant effect on the symptoms of OCD.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
- "Essential Psychopharmacology (2nd Edition)"; Stephen Stahl; 2002
- "Depression and Anxiety"; Natural Remedies for Anxiety Disorders: Potential Use and Clinical Applications; Gustavo Kinrys, Eliza Coleman and Ethan Rothstein; January 2009
