Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Treatment in Kolhapur

OCD is a common psychiatric illness seen worldwide. Symptoms include intrusive thoughts, distressing thoughts about cleanliness, safety, doubt, morality, moral behaviour, blasphemy and are associated with compulsive behaviours such as checking, hand washing etc. OCD is treatable. OCD is curable. For more details: Read the information below.

Reviewed by:

Dr Devavrat Harshe

MBBS, M.D., Ph.D.

Last Updated: January 2026

OCD treatment in Kolhapur: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a treatable, often curable mental health condition that is characterized by presence of intrusive thoughts causing intense and severe anxiety (obsessions or obsessive thoughts) and repetitive behaviours done as a compulsion to reduce the anxiety (compulsions) as a result. These symptoms if left untreated can impair academic and job performance, personal life, relationships, quality of life and mental health.

At Dhanvantari Nursing Home Neuropsychiatry Centre, Kolhapur, we offer evidence based assessments and treatments for OCD which include, psychotherapy, medications, rehabilitation and counselling. serving patients not only from Kolhapur but also those seeking an experienced OCD specialist in Sangli, Miraj, Ichalkaranji, and Gadhinglaj

What is OCD?

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OCD typically presents with:

Obsessions: unwanted, intrusive thoughts, impulses, images or ideas that are repetitive, uncontrollable and distressing.
Compulsions: Repetitive acts performed ritually to reduce the distress or anxiety generated by obsessions.

These symptoms are ego-dystonic which means, the person experiencing them recognizes them as distressing and wants or tries to control them.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is considered a major psychiatric condition. In the latest DSM-5 classification system, OCD is placed in a separate category called “Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders,” highlighting its clinical importance and distinct symptom profile.

Common symptoms of OCD and presenting complaints:

People suffering from OCD may experience the following:

Intrusive thoughts (obsessions, obsessive thoughts)
- Contamination - being dirty, contaminated, infected etc.
- Pathological doubt - having made a mistake, having engaged in bad behaviour, comitting a sin etc.
- Symmetry - arranging objects/places/spaces in a particular order, walking in a particular pattern etc.
- Blasphemy - bad/blasphemous, immoral thoughts about religion, a deity, an authority figure or a role model etc.
- Harm - repeated thoughts of harm, loss, hurt occuring as a result of something the person does/doesnt do.
Compulsive acts (compulsions)
- Cleaning, washing, rinsing (hands, clothes, floor etc) - mostly for obsession of "contamination".
- Checking, verifying, re-analysing (locks, gas knob, light switch, work etc) - mostly for obsession of "pathological doubt"
- Arranging, re-arranging, symmetric-patterned walking - mostly for obsessions of symmetry.
- Praying, checking, mental chanting, ritualistic praying - mostly for obsessions of blasphemy.

How does OCD look in life? Some examples to understand this better.

People suffering from OCD may experience the following:

Obsession of contamination.
- Are my hands clean? - leads to repeated hand washing - results in water being wasted, skin irritation on hands due to water and soap.
Obsession of pathological doubt.
- Did i lock the front door while leaving? - leads to repeated checking of locks - results in time, fuel being wasted, occasional damage to locks.
Obsessions of symmetry
- Is my desk neatly arranged? - leads to repeated arrangement and re-arrangement of desk - results in conflict with family, friends about tidiness.
Obsessions of blasphemy/morality
- Am i making a mistake/sin by not praying? - leads to repeated and constant mental praying to every temple on the road. - Leads to exhaustion from effort, burnout.
Obsessions of harm
- Will my son return home safely today if I wear yellow clothes? - leads to hiding, destruction, avoidance of everything yellow. - Causes social embarassment, financial loss.

Diagnosis and assessments for OCD:

We evaluate:

symptom profile
severity, duration
triggers
functional impairment/impact on life
co-existing conditions such as depression, anxiety etc.

We use standardized scales and instruments like Y-BOCS for assessment of severity and diagnosis.

Evidence based treatments for OCD available at Kolhapur:

Our treatments are aligned with guidelines issued by NICE, APA and IPS and include:

1. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)

Helps patients understand the distorted or obsessive thoughts, control them and slowly, distract away from them and then stop them. This is provided by psychiatrists and psychologists in a structured format. Usually, 6 to 15 sessions may be needed to see significant improvement in symptoms.

2. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)

This can be considered as the gold standard in therapy for certain types of OCD. Patients experience the situations they fear or have obsessions about and learn to control compulsive acts and systematically reduce the anxiety associated with it. It takes about 8 to 10 sessions for noticeable improvement to manifest.

3. Medications

In severe cases, certain social situations, or in cases with severe comorbid depression and anxiety, medications like SSRI do help in rapid relief from symptoms. Anxiety and distress may respond to medications within a couple of weeks. The core symptoms, obsessions (intrusive thoughts), compulsions (repetitive behaviour), avoidance, secondary depression may start responding in 2-3 weeks, but take about 6-12 weeks to fully respond.

4. Systemic desensitization and relaxation training.

Patients learn to achieve control over anxiety provoking situations or thoughts in a progressively escalating manner and develop skills to reduce anxious thoughts and physical symptoms of anxiety associated with them.

Important to note:

Best results are seen with a combined approach of medications + CBT + ERP within a period of 8-12 weeks after starting therapy.

When should you seek help for OCD?

One should seek treatment for OCD if:

symptoms last for more than 6 months.
symptoms are severe, lasting for most time of the day/
Obsessions (intrusive thoughts) are too distressing, causing emotional turmoil and distress.
compulsive acts (repetitive actions) take up more than one hour of time of your day.
symptoms cause stress on life, performance, relationships or social embarassment.
symptoms cause wastage of resources, efforts, time etc.

Why seek treatment in Kolhapur?

Locally available treatment is associated with reduced dropouts and better access to experts for emergencies, problem solving and managing exacerbations. People from nearby places like Sangli, Miraj, Ichalkaranji, Nipani, Belagavi, Ratnagiri can avail treatments at Kolhapur.

How to seek treatment in Kolhapur?

For treatment, simply click on "Book appointment" button below, or call +91-9167577279 for an appointment. The first consultation is often prolonged and takes about 40-60 minutes depending upon the course of OCD. Following that and psychological or psychometric assessments, a treatment plan will be formulated and shared with you.

After that, follow ups will be set roughly once every 10 to 15 days depending upon:

Symptom severity
Practical feasibility to visit
Social and life event related urgency (exams, wedding etc.)

You do not need a referral to book an appointment.

Waiting time at the hospital will vary between 15-30 minutes depending upon real time issues and problems. However, patients can pre-book appointments to avoid waiting much for the appointment.

What our expert psychiatrist says:

"Over the last 15 years, I have worked with several hundred patients living with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Most patients seen at our clinic present with contamination fears, checking behaviours, intrusive thoughts, or ritualistic behaviours. The majority respond well to a combination of CBT/ERP and medication when therapy is continued consistently.

Many patients who initially struggled to leave their homes due to rituals or avoidance are now able to resume work, education, and daily responsibilities after structured treatment and follow-up."

Why choose us?

We treat OCD by multi-disciplinary approach combining medications, ERP and CBT for achieving the best outcome for our clients. We treat:

Adult, adolescents and children with OCD.
Acute and chronic OCD
Treatment resistant OCD
OCD with dual diagnosis: when associated with secondary depression.

Testimonnials from our clients
Are anonymised and obtained with consent.

Prashant

"We were struggling to find a psychiatrist for a relative struggling with OCD who actually will listen. After visiting Dr Devavrat Harshe we felt heard. Unlike others we visited, he didn`t just medications, but took time for diagnosis and explained the root cause. Our relative is under his care for few months now, and is recovering with medication and ERP. If you are looking for the top psychiatrist in Kolhapur for OCD, I would recommend him"

Reviewed on JustDial

Link to the original review

https://www.justdial.com/Kolhapur/Dhanvantari-Nursing-Home-Neuropsychiatry-Centre-Opposite-Wilder-Memorial-Church-Shahupuri/0231P231STD9000160_BZDET

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

Q. Is OCD curable?

A. OCD is highly treatable. Many patients experience significant improvement with therapy, ERP and/or medication. Early intervention improves long-term outcomes.

Q. How is OCD diagnosed?

A. A psychiatrist diagnoses OCD based on clinical interviews, symptom patterns, duration, and functional impairment and in some cases, psychometric tests. There are no blood tests or scans required for diagnosis. Assessments with standardized instruments like Y-BOCS and DSM-5 criteria help in confirming the diagnosis.

Q. What causes OCD?

OCD arises from a combination of genetic, neurobiological, and psychological factors. Brain circuits involving serotonin and dopamine, family history, and stressful life events can contribute. Personality, temperament style, coping styles affect the course of illness and recovery.

Q. What treatments are available for OCD?

Evidence-based treatments include:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP)
SSRIs or other medications
Systemic desensitization and relaxation training.

Q. How long does OCD treatment take?

CBT/ERP may show improvement within 10–14 sessions. Medications may take 6–12 weeks to show full benefit, however relief from symptoms begins in a week or two. Duration varies depending on severity and chronicity.

Q. Do I need medication for OCD or can therapy alone work?

Mild OCD may improve with ERP or CBT therapy alone. Moderate to severe OCD often responds better to a combination of therapy and medication. Treatment is individualized by the psychiatrist.

Q. Can children and teenagers have OCD?

Yes. OCD can often begin in childhood or adolescence. Early diagnosis can prevent academic and social impairment. Symptoms are mostly identical to those found in adults.

Q. Is OCD treatment available in Kolhapur?

Yes. OCD can be treated locally through psychiatric consultations, therapy sessions, and medication management without needing to travel to metro cities. It is always better to have access to therapy and help near you to avoid dropouts from treatment. Dr Devavrat Harshe, a psychiatrist at Dhanvantari Nursing Home Neuropsychiatry Centre, Kolhapur treats OCD and related disorders with CBT, medication support and ERP.

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Data Collection: We only collect personal information (name, contact details) provided voluntarily via our appointment forms.
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Medical Disclaimer:

The information on this website, including text, graphics, and images, is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider like Dr. Devavrat Harshe regarding any medical condition or psychiatric symptoms. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this site. In case of a medical emergency, please contact your local emergency services or visit the nearest hospital immediately.

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