What is OCD?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) involves obsessions — unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that cause distress — and compulsions, which are repetitive behaviors or mental acts done to reduce that distress. Common themes include contamination, harm, symmetry, or needing things to feel "just right." OCD is not a personality quirk; it can take hours each day and interfere with school, work, and relationships.
OCD in children and teens
OCD often begins in childhood or adolescence. Children may seek repeated reassurance, need rituals at bedtime, or become very upset when routines are disrupted. Parents can unintentionally become involved in rituals, and we help families learn supportive ways to respond.
Treatment for OCD
OCD is treatable. Evidence-based care usually combines:
- Exposure and response prevention (ERP), a specialized form of cognitive behavioral therapy — we help patients connect with qualified therapists and coordinate with them
- Medication management when appropriate, often with medications that require careful dosing and patience to reach full effect
- Psychoeducation for patients and families
- Screening for related conditions such as anxiety, tic disorders, or depression
Where we see patients
Care is provided by Vivienne Gomes, M.D., Adult, Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, and Emmanuel Sango, DNP, APRN, CRNP, PMHNP-BC, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. You can see us in person at our office at 18310 Montgomery Village Ave in Gaithersburg, or by secure video if you are located in Maryland at the time of your appointment. See telepsychiatry in Maryland.