My daughter is suffering from anxiety disorder. Is it curable?

Question

Hello doctor,

My 30 year old daughter is suffering from anxiety disorder and washes her hands two to three times, as she fails to remember. Also, she faces the same problem during a bath. But with reasoning, she is trying to overcome. We are trying hard by talking to her to reduce her fear and compulsion. What is your medical advice considering the future pregnancy of my daughter? Is it curable with medicine and other methods? This may be since six months, and her husband has a sexual problem (impotence). He works alternatingly in night and day shifts, so my daughter is alone most of the time. Her CBC, LFT, T3, T4, TSH, and HbA1c are normal.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

From your description, it appears to be a case of OCD(obsessive compulsive disorder). It can be treated with both medications and psychotherapy, although the best result is when both modalities are combined. Fluoxetine is a relatively safer drug considering future pregnancy. CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) can be given for non-pharmacological treatment. The treatment is essential as the condition can worsen with time, especially during pregnancy and in the postpartum period. To summarize, treatment is possible, and psychiatric care is required in the form of medicines and psychotherapy. Thank you.

Answer 2

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

It is recommended to start with monotherapy, so Fluoxetine alone is sufficient. I suggest you try adding short-term benzodiazepine if there is sleep problem or excessive anxiety. Consult your specialist doctor, discuss with him or her and start taking the medicines after their consent. The symptoms can be completely cured with treatment, the effect is more when psychotherapy is added to medicines. These are relatively safer drugs, major side effects are GI (gastrointestinal) side effects like acidity, which usually are self-remitting, and minor weight gain. Thank you.