Surgery is not generally used to treat most patients who have been diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or OCD. Instead, most doctors tend to stick with different treatment programs like prescription medications, therapy, or a combination of the two. Medications and therapy are often all that is needed to control the symptoms of OCD, although in some people stronger medications and more frequent therapy sessions are needed. In some cases, though, surgery can be an option.

When is Surgery Selected?

Doctors may choose to perform a surgical procedure on a patient who has severe symptoms of OCD. The procedure is only performed in rare instances in which patients have failed to respond to more conventional methods of treatment. This means that the patient did not have success with a strict medication and therapy treatment program. In these cases, doctors may take the rare option of performing a procedure. For OCD, doctors may use a procedure called deep brain stimulation.

Deep brain stimulation is a procedure in which doctors surgically implant electrodes in the brain. The doctors may then use the implanted electrodes to treat the patient. The doctors use magnetic stimulation through the electrodes in the brain in order to stimulate different parts of the brain. This procedure is only usually useful in patients who have little other response to alternative treatments. In fact, most people are not aware that a surgical procedure can even be used to treat patients with OCD.

Patients who have a particularly severe version of OCD who have tried for years different medications and frequent therapy sessions may wish to talk with their doctor about this form of treatment. While not for everyone, this procedure may help to reduce the more severe symptoms of OCD in these patients. When the symptoms are further reduced, the patient may respond more effectively to more conventional forms of treatment. Or, at the very least, with some symptoms reduced, the patient can lead a more productive life. Before surgery happens, though, doctors will perform a thorough evaluation to determine if the patient is truly not responsive to other forms of treatment.

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