Management of obsessive compulsive disorder.

The treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder was characterised by therapeutic pessimism until 25 years ago when effective treatments using behaviour therapy and the serotonin reuptake inhibitors were developed. At present the best available treatment is a combination of behaviour therapy and pharmacotherapy with a serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Psychosurgery is only indicated for patients who fail to respond to pharmacologic and behavioural treatments and who suffer from disabling symptoms.