OCD is a mental health condition characterized by intrusive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) performed to reduce anxiety. It's not a personality trait or preference, it's a cycle that the brain gets stuck in, and it's highly treatable.¹
It is one of the most misunderstood mental health conditions. It’s often described casually as being “organized” or “particular,” but for people experiencing it, OCD can feel overwhelming, intrusive, and difficult to control.
Many people with OCD don’t feel in control of their thoughts or behaviors. Instead, they feel caught in a loop, where distressing thoughts appear without warning, anxiety builds quickly, and certain actions or mental rituals feel necessary just to get temporary relief.
Over time, this cycle can become exhausting. It can affect how you think, how long everyday tasks take, how confident you feel in your decisions, and how you show up in relationships.
The good news is that OCD is highly treatable. With the right diagnosis and evidence-based care, people can significantly reduce symptoms, break the cycle, and regain a sense of control.
What Is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?
In simple terms, OCD is a cycle: intrusive thoughts followed by behaviors meant to relieve distress. What makes OCD distinct from everyday worry is that the relief is always temporary, and the cycle repeats.
With OCD:
- Thoughts feel intrusive and difficult to dismiss
- They trigger anxiety, urgency, or a sense of responsibility
- Compulsions feel necessary, not optional
- Relief is temporary, and the cycle repeats
OCD is not about liking routines or being detail-oriented, it’s about feeling stuck in a pattern that your brain won’t let go of.
Am I Experiencing OCD or Something Else?
OCD can look similar to anxiety, overthinking, or perfectionism, which is why many people don’t recognize it right away. The key difference is the loop:
- Trigger → Intrusive thought → Anxiety → Compulsion → Temporary relief → Repeat
You may be experiencing OCD if:
- Thoughts feel intrusive, unwanted, and difficult to control
- You feel driven to “resolve” or neutralize them
- You perform behaviors or mental rituals to reduce anxiety
- Relief doesn’t last, and the cycle returns
OCD is not just about thoughts, it’s about the relationship between thoughts and behaviors.
Signs & Symptoms of OCD
The hallmarks of OCD are obsessions (intrusive thoughts) and compulsions (repetitive behaviors or mental rituals used to reduce distress). These can vary widely, but they follow the same underlying pattern.²
1. Obsessions
Obsessions are recurring, intrusive, and unwanted thoughts, urges, or images that cause significant anxiety. They often center around things that matter deeply to you, which is why they feel so distressing.
Common examples include:
- Fear of contamination or spreading illness
- Intrusive sexual or taboo thoughts
- Religious or moral fears
- Fear of harming yourself or others
- Fear of making a mistake or being responsible for harm
- A need for things to feel “just right”
These thoughts are not simply worries, they feel persistent, intrusive, and difficult to disengage from.
2. Compulsions
Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to reduce anxiety caused by obsessions. They provide temporary relief, but reinforce the cycle over time.
Common compulsions include:
- Repeated checking (locks, appliances, safety concerns)
- Excessive cleaning or handwashing
- Seeking reassurance from others
- Mental reviewing, analyzing, or replaying events
- Counting, tapping, or repeating actions
- Avoiding triggering situations
Many compulsions happen internally, which is why OCD is often missed or misunderstood.

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How Can You Know if You Have OCD?
OCD is often misunderstood, so many people question whether what they’re experiencing “counts.”
It may start as:
- “I’m just overthinking”
- “I just need to be more certain”
- “I’m being responsible”
But over time, it begins to feel less like a preference, and more like something you can’t turn off. You might be experiencing OCD if you:
- Spend significant time (often an hour or more per day) caught in repetitive thoughts or behaviors
- Feel unable to stop thoughts, even when they seem irrational
- Experience anxiety or discomfort when trying to resist a compulsion
- Perform behaviors not because you want to, but because it feels necessary
- Experience only temporary relief before the cycle returns
- Avoid situations that might trigger intrusive thoughts
- Feel your daily life is being disrupted by these patterns
OCD is not enjoyable, the behaviors are not satisfying, only relieving. If this feels familiar, it may mean your brain is stuck in a pattern that responds well to treatment.
What OCD Feels Like in Real Life
OCD is often less about what you’re thinking and more about how it feels to be stuck with those thoughts.
People describe it as:
- “My brain won’t let things go”
- “I know it doesn’t make sense, but it still feels real”
- “I keep trying to get certainty, but it never works”
- “I don’t trust my own thoughts anymore”
There’s often a constant tension between logic and feeling. Over time, OCD can affect:
- Decision-making
- Time management
- Confidence
- Relationships
How OCD Shows Up in Different People
OCD doesn’t look the same for everyone. While the underlying cycle of obsessions and compulsions is consistent, the way it presents can vary based on age, gender, personality, and life stage.
These differences can make OCD harder to recognize, especially when symptoms don’t match common stereotypes. Many people go years without realizing what they’re experiencing has a name, simply because it doesn’t look the way they expect.
Understanding how OCD can show up in different people can make it easier to recognize patterns in your own experience, and take the next step toward getting support.
OCD in Women
OCD in women is often under-recognized because it tends to present in more internal or relational ways. Symptoms may center around responsibility, relationships, caregiving, or fear of causing harm, especially to people they care about.
For example, some women experience intrusive thoughts about harming their child or loved ones, particularly during pregnancy or the postpartum period. These thoughts can feel deeply distressing and confusing, especially because they go against the person’s values.
Because many compulsions are mental (such as analyzing, replaying, or seeking reassurance), OCD in women is sometimes misdiagnosed as generalized anxiety. Hormonal changes may also influence symptom severity for some individuals.
OCD in Men
OCD in men may be more likely to include observable compulsions, such as checking, repeating actions, or controlling environments. However, internal symptoms are just as common.
Themes may center around responsibility, control, or preventing harm, often accompanied by a strong need for certainty.
Men are sometimes less likely to seek help early, which can lead to symptoms becoming more ingrained over time. As a result, OCD may become more time-consuming or disruptive before treatment is pursued.
OCD in Children and Teens
OCD can begin in childhood or adolescence, and it often looks different than it does in adults.
Children may:
- Struggle to explain their thoughts or behaviors
- Seek frequent reassurance from parents
- Become distressed when routines are interrupted
- Show irritability, anxiety, or emotional outbursts
Unlike adults, children often don’t recognize that their thoughts are irrational. This can make OCD feel especially real, confusing, and overwhelming.
Early identification and treatment are especially important, as they can significantly improve long-term outcomes.
High-Functioning OCD
Some people with OCD appear highly capable on the outside, successful at work, organized, and dependable, while struggling internally. This is sometimes referred to as “high-functioning OCD,” though it is not a formal diagnosis.
It may involve:
- Perfectionism driven by anxiety rather than preference
- Excessive time spent reviewing, checking, or mentally rehearsing
- Difficulty feeling “done” with tasks
- Ongoing internal distress that others don’t see
Because these individuals are functioning well externally, their symptoms are often overlooked or minimized, even by themselves.
If any of these patterns feel familiar, a professional evaluation can help clarify whether OCD may be part of what you’re experiencing, and what type of treatment would be most effective.
Types of OCD
OCD is often described in terms of “types” or “themes,” but it’s important to understand that OCD is not defined by the content of the thought, it’s defined by the pattern of how your brain responds to it.
In simple terms, OCD is a cycle: intrusive thought → anxiety → compulsion → temporary relief → repeat.
The specific fear or topic may change over time, but the underlying cycle remains the same. Many people move between themes, or experience more than one at once. Recognizing this pattern is often more helpful than trying to categorize your symptoms perfectly.
Common OCD themes include:
- Contamination OCD
Involves fears of germs, illness, or spreading contamination to others. This may lead to excessive cleaning, handwashing, or avoiding places perceived as “unsafe.” The distress is often tied to responsibility, feeling like you could harm yourself or others if you don’t act. - Harm OCD
Involves intrusive fears of causing harm to yourself or others, even when you have no desire or intent to do so. These thoughts are often deeply distressing because they conflict with your values, which is exactly why they feel so convincing. - Relationship OCD (ROCD)
Involves persistent doubts about relationships, including questioning feelings, compatibility, or whether something is “wrong.” These thoughts often feel urgent but never fully resolve, leading to repeated checking, reassurance-seeking, or analysis. - Sexual or Taboo OCD
Involves intrusive thoughts that feel disturbing, inappropriate, or out of character. These thoughts are often misunderstood, but they are a common form of OCD and do not reflect a person’s intentions or identity. - Checking OCD
Involves repeated checking behaviors (locks, appliances, safety concerns) to prevent perceived harm or mistakes. The goal is to gain certainty, but certainty never fully lasts. - “Just Right” OCD
Involves a strong sense that something is incomplete, off, or not quite right. The distress comes from internal discomfort rather than fear of a specific outcome, leading to repeating actions until things feel “correct.” - Pure O (Primarily Obsessional OCD)
Involves mostly internal compulsions, such as mental reviewing, analyzing, or trying to “figure out” thoughts. Because these behaviors aren’t visible, this form of OCD is often overlooked or mistaken for anxiety.- Note: 'Pure O' is a colloquial term used to describe this experience, it is not a formal DSM-5 diagnosis, and most people with so-called Pure O do engage in compulsions, they are simply mental rather than behavioral.
- High-Functioning OCD
Involves internal distress paired with outward success. Individuals may appear organized, reliable, or high-achieving, while privately struggling with intrusive thoughts and compulsive patterns.
The theme may shift, but the cycle driving OCD remains consistent. Treatment focuses on breaking that cycle, regardless of the specific content of the thoughts.
What Causes OCD?
The exact cause of OCD isn’t fully understood, but research shows it develops from a combination of biological, psychological, and environmental factors.³
Rather than being caused by a single event or personality trait, OCD is best understood as a condition involving how the brain processes uncertainty, risk, and perceived threat.
Several factors may contribute:
- Brain circuitry and threat detection
OCD is linked to differences in brain circuits involved in detecting danger and forming habits. These circuits can become overactive, causing the brain to send repeated “false alarms.” - Neurotransmitters (especially serotonin)
Imbalances in serotonin and related systems can affect how the brain regulates mood, anxiety, and repetitive thought patterns. - Genetics
OCD can run in families, suggesting a genetic component. However, having a family history does not guarantee someone will develop OCD. - Learned responses to uncertainty
Over time, the brain may learn that certain behaviors (like checking or reassurance) reduce anxiety. This reinforces the OCD cycle and makes it more automatic. - Stressful or triggering life events
Periods of high stress, major life transitions, or trauma can increase vulnerability or intensify symptoms.
In simple terms, OCD is like a misfiring alarm system; it detects danger where there isn’t any, and then struggles to turn the signal off.
Understanding the cause isn’t about finding something to blame, it’s about recognizing how your brain is working so you can learn how to respond differently.
Why OCD Feels So Physical and Urgent
OCD doesn’t just exist in your thoughts, it activates your entire nervous system. When an intrusive thought appears, your brain treats it like a real threat. This triggers:
- A surge of anxiety
- Physical tension
- A sense of urgency or danger
- A strong need to resolve the thought
Performing a compulsion reduces that anxiety temporarily, which teaches your brain that the compulsion “worked.”
This is why OCD can feel:
- Extremely convincing
- Emotionally intense
- Hard to ignore, even when you know better
How to Manage or Reduce OCD Symptoms
Managing OCD in the moment is not about eliminating intrusive thoughts, it’s about changing how you respond to them.
When you engage with a thought by analyzing it, checking, or seeking reassurance, your brain learns that the thought is important and needs attention. This strengthens the OCD cycle over time.
These strategies work by interrupting the reinforcement loop that keeps OCD going. When you resist compulsions, even briefly, your brain begins to learn that the anxiety will decrease on its own, without needing to perform the behavior.
Over time, this reduces both the intensity of the anxiety and the urge to respond.
Helpful strategies include:
- Label the thought: Remind yourself, “This is an OCD thought,” rather than treating it as a real threat
- Delay the compulsion: Give yourself time before responding, even if only for a few minutes
- Allow uncertainty: Resist the urge to fully resolve or “figure out” the thought
- Reduce reassurance-seeking: Avoid asking others (or yourself) for repeated confirmation
- Use grounding techniques: Bring your attention back to your body or environment
These strategies can feel uncomfortable at first, that’s expected. The goal is not to feel immediate relief, but to retrain how your brain responds over time.
While these tools can help in the moment, lasting improvement typically comes from structured treatment, such as Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), which is designed to systematically break the OCD cycle.
What Happens If OCD Goes Untreated?
When OCD is left untreated, it often becomes more persistent and more disruptive over time.
Because the cycle reinforces itself, symptoms can:
- Take up more time each day
- Expand into new themes or areas of life
- Increase avoidance behaviors
- Affect work, relationships, and daily functioning
Over time, untreated OCD can also lead to:
- Burnout and emotional exhaustion
- Increased anxiety
- Depression
Early treatment can significantly reduce long-term impact and improve quality of life.

Virtual OCD Therapy, Wherever You Are
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Can OCD Go Away on Its Own?
OCD is typically a chronic condition, meaning it doesn’t usually disappear without treatment. However, that doesn’t mean it can’t improve.
With treatment:
- Symptoms can become significantly more manageable
- The cycle can weaken
- Daily life can feel more manageable
When Should You Seek Help?
It’s not always obvious when OCD has reached the point of needing support.
You may want to consider seeking help if:
- You spend significant time managing thoughts or behaviors
- You feel unable to control the cycle
- Anxiety increases when you try to resist compulsions
- Symptoms interfere with daily life
- You’re avoiding situations to prevent triggers
You don’t need to wait until symptoms are severe. Early support can make treatment more effective.
How Is OCD Diagnosed?
Diagnosing OCD involves a comprehensive clinical evaluation by a licensed mental health professional.
This typically includes:
- A detailed discussion of symptoms and patterns
- Assessment of obsessions and compulsions
- Evaluation of how symptoms impact daily functioning
- Use of DSM-5 diagnostic criteria¹
It’s important to work with someone who understands OCD and can distinguish it from similar conditions.
Relevant Screening Tools
Clinicians may use structured tools to support diagnosis and track progress.
These include:
- Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS)⁴
- Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (OCI-R)
How Is OCD Treated?
OCD treatment is highly effective, but it requires the right approach.⁵ Unlike general anxiety, OCD treatment focuses specifically on breaking the obsession-compulsion cycle.
Most treatment plans include:
- Therapy
- Medication (if needed)
- Skills-based strategies
What to Expect from OCD Treatment
Starting treatment for OCD can feel like a big step, especially if you’re not sure what it will involve. Many people worry that treatment will feel overwhelming, that they’ll be pushed too quickly, or that they’ll have to face everything all at once.
In reality, effective OCD treatment is gradual, collaborative, and designed to move at a pace that feels manageable. You won’t be thrown into the hardest situations right away. Instead, your provider will work with you to build a clear understanding of your symptoms and create a plan that feels structured, supportive, and realistic.
Early in treatment, the focus is often on:
- Understanding your specific OCD patterns
- Identifying triggers and how the cycle shows up for you
- Learning how obsessions and compulsions are connected
From there, treatment becomes more active, but still guided and intentional.
Many people begin to notice improvement within 2–3 months, especially when using a combination of therapy and, when appropriate, medication. That said, progress doesn’t usually happen all at once. It tends to build gradually, as your brain begins to learn new ways of responding to thoughts and anxiety.
It’s also normal to feel some discomfort during treatment, particularly in approaches like Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), which involves facing fears in a structured way. But this discomfort is temporary and purposeful, and it happens within a safe, supportive environment.
Over time, most people notice:
- Less urgency around intrusive thoughts
- Reduced need to perform compulsions
- Increased ability to tolerate uncertainty
- More confidence in their own thinking
Treatment isn’t about eliminating thoughts completely, it’s about changing your relationship to them so they no longer control your behavior. And importantly, you won’t be doing this alone. Your provider will:
- Guide you step-by-step
- Adjust the pace based on your needs
- Help you navigate challenges as they come up
The goal isn’t just short-term relief, it’s helping you feel more in control, more present, and better equipped to handle OCD long-term.
Treatment Types
Effective OCD treatment is typically multi-faceted, combining therapy, medication (when appropriate), and supportive lifestyle changes. The goal is not just to reduce symptoms, but to help you change how you respond to intrusive thoughts so they lose their power over time.
Most treatment plans are personalized based on symptom severity, preferences, and individual needs.
Therapy for OCD
Therapy is the foundation of OCD treatment.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is considered the gold standard.⁶ ERP works by gradually helping you face the thoughts, situations, or triggers that cause anxiety, while resisting the urge to perform compulsions.
Over time, this helps your brain learn a new pattern: anxiety can decrease on its own, without needing a compulsion.
This process retrains the brain’s threat response system and weakens the OCD cycle.
Other approaches, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), may also be used to support treatment by addressing thought patterns and increasing psychological flexibility.
OCD Medication
Medication can be an important part of treatment, especially for moderate to severe OCD. The most commonly used medications are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which help regulate serotonin levels in the brain.⁷
Medication can:
- Reduce the intensity of intrusive thoughts
- Lower baseline anxiety
- Make it easier to engage in therapy
It typically takes 6–12 weeks to notice the full effects, and adjustments may be needed to find the right medication and dosage.
Medication is most effective when combined with therapy, rather than used on its own.
Lifestyle Support for OCD
Lifestyle changes are not a replacement for treatment, but they can play an important role in supporting recovery. OCD is closely tied to how the nervous system responds to stress, so improving overall regulation can make symptoms more manageable.
Helpful areas to focus on include:
- Sleep consistency: Poor sleep can increase anxiety and intrusive thoughts
- Physical activity: Regular movement helps regulate stress and mood
- Stress management: Reducing overall stress can lower symptom intensity
- Mindfulness and grounding: Helps build awareness of thoughts without reacting to them
These changes support your brain’s ability to tolerate uncertainty and reduce reactivity, but lasting improvement typically comes from structured treatment like ERP.
OCD vs Related Conditions
OCD can overlap with other mental health conditions, which is one of the reasons it’s often misunderstood or misdiagnosed. Many people spend years thinking they have anxiety, ADHD, or are “just overthinking,” without realizing there’s a specific pattern driving their experience.
Understanding the differences matters, not just for labeling, but because treatment approaches are different, and getting the right diagnosis can significantly change outcomes.
OCD vs Anxiety
OCD and anxiety are closely related, but they are not the same.
Anxiety typically involves generalized worry about real-life concerns like work, health, or relationships. While the worry may feel excessive, it usually doesn’t follow a rigid pattern.
OCD, on the other hand, involves:
- Intrusive, often irrational thoughts
- A strong urge to neutralize those thoughts
- Repetitive behaviors or mental rituals (compulsions)
The key difference: OCD is a loop (obsession > compulsion), while anxiety is more free-flowing worry
This distinction matters because OCD requires specific treatment approaches like Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), which are different from standard anxiety treatment.
OCD vs ADHD
OCD and ADHD can sometimes look similar, especially when it comes to difficulty focusing, feeling overwhelmed, or getting stuck in thoughts. But the underlying causes are very different.
ADHD is primarily a condition of attention regulation and executive functioning, while OCD is driven by intrusive thoughts and compulsive responses.
For example:
- Someone with ADHD may struggle to focus because their attention drifts
- Someone with OCD may struggle to focus because their mind is stuck on a specific intrusive thought
In some cases, both conditions can occur together, which is why a careful evaluation is important.
OCD vs Depression
OCD and depression frequently co-occur, and one can lead to the other over time.
Depression is typically characterized by:
- Low mood
- Lack of motivation
- Reduced energy or interest
OCD, by contrast, is driven by:
- Anxiety
- Intrusive thoughts
- Compulsive behaviors
However, living with untreated OCD can become exhausting, and many people develop depression as a result of feeling stuck in the cycle.
When both are present, treatment often needs to address both conditions together.
OCD vs PTSD
OCD and PTSD can both involve intrusive thoughts, which is where confusion often happens. The difference lies in where the thoughts come from.
PTSD is rooted in past traumatic events, and intrusive thoughts are typically tied to real experiences (flashbacks, memories, triggers).
OCD intrusive thoughts are:
- Not based on actual events
- Often hypothetical or “what if” scenarios
- Focused on preventing something bad from happening
Treatment approaches differ significantly, which is why distinguishing between the two is important.
How Clarity Clinic Treats OCD
At Clarity Clinic, OCD treatment is specialized and evidence-based. It’s built around your specific symptom patterns, not a general anxiety approach.
Your first appointment begins with a comprehensive clinical evaluation. Your provider will map your specific OCD cycle, assess symptom severity, and build a personalized treatment plan before any active treatment begins.
Therapy is built on Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) - the gold standard for OCD. Your therapist will work with you to develop a graduated exposure hierarchy and guide you through the process at a pace that's challenging but manageable. CBT and ACT techniques are incorporated where appropriate to support long-term progress.
Medication management is available for individuals where SSRIs are appropriate. Our psychiatry and therapy teams work in coordination, so if medication is part of your plan, both providers are aligned.
Progress is tracked using measurement-based care tools, so your provider always has an objective view of how you're responding and can adjust your plan accordingly.
Most people begin to notice meaningful improvement within 2–3 months of consistent treatment. Timelines vary based on symptom severity and individual response, and your provider will give you a realistic picture of what to expect from the start.
OCD Treatment in Chicago & the Surrounding Area
Clarity Clinic offers specialized OCD treatment across the Chicago area, with multiple locations designed to make high-quality care accessible, whether you're in the city or the suburbs.
Our clinicians are experienced in treating OCD using evidence-based approaches, including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). We work with adults, teens, and young adults across Chicagoland who are ready to break the OCD cycle and regain a sense of control.
In-person OCD treatment is available at the following locations:
- Chicago Loop: serving downtown Chicago and surrounding neighborhoods including the West Loop, South Loop, Streeterville, and the Near North Side. Our Loop clinic also offers TMS therapy for depression and PHP/IOP programs for those who need a higher level of care.
- River North: serving River North, Gold Coast, Old Town, and surrounding downtown Chicago neighborhoods. Ideal for professionals and residents looking for an OCD therapist conveniently located in the city center.
- Lakeview – Broadway: serving Chicago's North Side, including Lakeview, Wrigleyville, Boystown, Roscoe Village, and Andersonville. Accessible via the Red Line at the Addison stop.
- Lakeview – Belmont: serving Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Bucktown, Wicker Park, and Logan Square. Located at 929 W Belmont Ave, with easy access to CTA bus routes and the Red/Brown/Purple Line at Belmont.
- Evanston: serving Evanston and the North Shore suburbs, including Skokie, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Winnetka, Glenview, and Northbrook. A convenient option for those who prefer to avoid the commute into the city.
- Arlington Heights: serving the northwest suburbs, including Schaumburg, Palatine, Rolling Meadows, Buffalo Grove, Hoffman Estates, and Barrington. Our Arlington Heights clinic also offers TMS therapy for depression and PHP/IOP programs.
Virtual OCD treatment is available statewide for Illinois residents who prefer to meet with a therapist or psychiatrist from home.
If you're searching for an OCD therapist in Chicago, OCD treatment near the North Shore, or a specialist in the northwest or southwest suburbs, our team can help you find the right fit and get started ASAP.
References
- American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR).
https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/dsm - Mayo Clinic. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): Symptoms and causes.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20354432 - National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd - Goodman WK et al. The Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS).
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1918612/ - International OCD Foundation (IOCDF). What is OCD?
https://iocdf.org/about-ocd/ - Abramowitz JS. Exposure and Response Prevention for OCD.
https://iocdf.org/about-ocd/ocd-treatment/erp/ - Baldwin DS et al. Pharmacological treatment of OCD (SSRIs).
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24713617/