Patient turned Donor Helps Fund the Future of OCD Treatment through Innovative Research
Long before the onset of COVID-19, Mary* washed her hands incessantly, used hand sanitizer, and spent countless hours wiping down high-touch surfaces for fear of contamination. While some of these activities are common hygiene practices in a pandemic, for Mary, who has obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), they’re elaborate rituals that consume her days as she grapples with a phobia of germs.
“OCD is a fear of something that causes you to have obsessions,” Mary explains. “You create rituals to relieve anxiety and distress about that fear. It feels like those rituals help at first, but they can spiral out of control and take over your life.”
As a St. Joe’s patient, Mary receives care from psychologist Dr. Karen Rowa and the team at our Anxiety Treatment and Research Clinic (ATRC) to relieve OCD’s grip on her life. As a donor, Mary is funding the future of OCD treatment through innovative research at our Hospital to help others struggling with the illness.
“It’s very heartwarming to see and feel the value of your donations,” Mary says. “My hope is, with greater research into the illness, treatment will be more effective and more people with OCD will find help and some relief.”
Innovating OCD Care Through Novel Treatments
Thanks to Mary’s thoughtful gifts, Drs. Rowa and Noam Soreni, clinicians specializing in the treatment of OCD, are piloting two research studies to alleviate OCD’s disruptive impact on patients and families. One study examines how providing family members with strategies to reduce accommodations for OCD can help them gain a better appreciation of the illness, while also playing a pivotal role in their loved one’s recovery.
“Accommodation is the tendency for family members to inadvertently participate, reinforce, and fuel the OCD. It could be helping a loved one perform rituals or changing household routines to appease their illness,” Dr. Rowa says. “Either way, accommodation interferes with treatment, so it’s important to address it through research.”
A second study looks at the use of a transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) device, funded by Mary’s generous donations, to stimulate pathways in the brain to help patients engage in challenging therapeutic exercises, such as exposure therapy.
For someone like Mary, for example, an exposure exercise may involve touching a doorknob, then touching a glass, and then drinking from the glass without washing her hands. The exposure exercises are always conducted in a safe, supportive setting to help patients conquer their fear and realize that some of their rituals may not be necessary.
“We are so grateful to Mary for her support, which has been instrumental in piloting these novel treatments that have the potential to complement and enhance existing OCD care to improve patient outcomes over time,” Dr. Rowa says. “Once we have conclusive results, they may become valuable clinical services to vastly improve the quality of life of patients living with OCD.”
When OCD Meets COVID-19
A retired professional, Mary was diagnosed with OCD seven years ago. While she’s fully vaccinated against the virus, Mary acknowledges that COVID-19 has amplified her fear of germs, and made it feel like she’s starting treatment all over again. But with support from Dr. Rowa and the ATRC, Mary continues to make strides in managing her OCD.
“The wonderful thing about Dr. Rowa is that she gains your trust and gives you the courage to expose yourself to your greatest fears,” Mary says. “That’s why, I’ve always had confidence in her expertise to further OCD research, and to find new ways to help people like me who are living with OCD.”
*Out of respect for Mary’s privacy, her name has been changed in this story.