Which is more important, medication or cognitive-behavioral therapy, and how should the two be reasonably combined to achieve the best results?
Cleanliness, also known as obsessive-compulsive disorder, is a common mental disorder. People with cleanliness will have repeated cleaning or tidying behaviors to reduce anxiety. They can be overly focused on cleanliness and can't control the urge to repeat inspections or clean.
This not only affects the patient's daily life, but also puts pressure on the family. So, which is more important, medication or cognitive-behavioral therapy?
First of all, drug therapy can quickly improve the symptoms of cleanliness and is an important part of treatment. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are often preferred.
These drugs increase serotonin levels in the patient's body, which can help control repetitive compulsive behaviors and anxiety. Clinical trials have shown that after 12 weeks of drug treatment, about 50-60% of patients show significant improvement.
However, drug therapy often has side effects and is prone to recurrence. Most patients experience a rebound of symptoms after stopping the drug.
Second, cognitive-behavioral therapy is also crucial. It trains patients to face anxiety and gradually reduce compulsions by identifying the thought patterns that trigger OCD. Cognitive-behavioral therapy takes time, but the results are long-lasting.
Studies have shown that 1 year after treatment, patients who receive cognitive-behavioral therapy have significantly better symptoms than those who receive medication alone.
Thirdly, a combination of the two treatments is the most effective. One study compared the effects of treatment in three groups of people with cleanliness: medication alone, cognitive behavioural therapy only, and combination therapy. The results showed that drug therapy combined with cognitive behavioral therapy could significantly improve the treatment effect and reduce the recurrence rate.
Experts recommend that patients with cleanliness should participate in cognitive-behavioral therapy along with medication.
Specifically, pharmacotherapy can quickly control symptoms, while cognitive-behavioral therapy can change thinking patterns to avoid relapse. Pharmacotherapy can be lowered, making patients more susceptible to subsequent cognitive-behavioral therapy.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps patients confront the drivers of compulsive behaviors and reduce dependence on medications. The two complement each other and work together to improve the effectiveness of treatment.
Of course, the treatment plan needs to be tailored to the individual's needs. Mild cleanliness can be treated with cognitive-behavioral therapy alone. Moderate to severe cleanliness requires pharmacotherapy supplemented by cognitive-behavioral therapy. The expert group will develop a personalized treatment strategy based on the characteristics of each patient's condition.
In summary, drug therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy are equally important for patients with cleanliness fetish, and the condition should be accurately assessed, and the two therapies should be reasonably selected and used in combination to achieve the best treatment effect. It is hoped that through scientific and systematic treatment, patients with cleanliness can regain a healthy life.
