OCD Treatment: Choosing the Right Approach
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder responds best to a specific, structured combination of therapy and, often, medication. Our team, led by Dr. Pavan Sonar — MBBS, DPM, DNB Psychiatry, helps patients across Mumbai and Maharashtra access the right protocol, with 22+ years of experience and 50,000+ patients treated.
ERP, Medication, or Both? A Decision Guide
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) — The Gold Standard
ERP, a specific form of CBT, is the single most effective treatment for OCD — more effective than medication alone for most patients. It works by gradually exposing patients to obsession triggers while preventing the compulsive response, retraining the brain’s threat-response over time. For mild-to-moderate OCD, ERP alone is often sufficient.
When Medication Is Added
For moderate-to-severe OCD, SSRIs at OCD-specific doses (typically higher than for depression) are combined with ERP. Medication reduces the intensity of obsessions enough to make ERP exercises more tolerable, and is particularly helpful when symptoms are too severe to engage with therapy alone initially.
What ERP Actually Involves
Sessions build a hierarchy of feared situations, starting with manageable exposures and progressing gradually. Between sessions, patients practise resisting compulsions with therapist support. It requires real commitment — but has the strongest long-term evidence base of any OCD treatment, including for contamination fears, checking behaviours, intrusive thoughts, and symmetry/ordering compulsions.
Recognising OCD
Intrusive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) causing significant distress, and repetitive behaviours or mental acts (compulsions) performed to reduce that distress — checking, washing, counting, ordering, or mental rituals — that consume significant time and interfere with daily life.
Access Across Maharashtra
In-person at our Mumbai clinic locations (Borivali West, Malad West, Malad East, Andheri West) or via online video consultation for patients across Maharashtra. ERP delivered via video call has growing evidence for effectiveness, particularly for patients who find travel to in-person sessions difficult.
Considering the therapy route specifically? See our dedicated Individual Therapy (CBT, DBT) page for more on how structured therapy programmes work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ERP really more effective than medication for OCD?
For most patients, yes — ERP has the strongest evidence base of any OCD treatment and produces more durable improvement than medication alone. Many patients do best with both, especially for moderate-to-severe presentations.
How long does ERP take to work?
Most structured ERP programmes run 12–20 sessions, with many patients noticing reduced compulsion frequency by session 6–8. Full symptom reduction typically takes longer and requires between-session practice.
Why do OCD medication doses differ from depression doses?
OCD typically requires higher SSRI doses than depression to achieve adequate symptom control, and takes longer — often 10–12 weeks — to show full effect, compared to 4–8 weeks for depression.
Can ERP be done online?
Yes, for many patients. Video-delivered ERP allows therapist-guided exposure exercises in the patient’s own environment, which can be an advantage for certain triggers (e.g. home contamination fears).
Book Your OCD Consultation
A treatment plan built around ERP and, where needed, medication — matched to your specific OCD presentation.
📞 Call / WhatsApp: +91 85918 40141
📧 Email: drpavansonar@gmail.com
Clinic Locations: Borivali West | Malad West | Andheri West | Malad East — and online across Maharashtra