The Huberman Lab Podcast discusses neuroscience: how our brain and its connections with the organs of our body control our perceptions, our behaviors, and our health. We also discuss existing and emerging tools for measuring and changing how our nervous system works. Dr. Andrew Huberman is a tenured Professor of Neurobiology and Ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine. His laboratory studies neural regeneration, neuroplasticity, and brain states such as stress, focus, fear, and optimal performance. For more than 20 years, Dr. Huberman has consistently published original research findings and review articles in top-level peer-reviewed journals, including Nature, Science, Cell, Neuron, and Current Biology. He is a regular member of several National Institutes of Health review panels and a Fellow of the McKnight Foundation and the Pew Charitable Trusts. Dr. Huberman regularly consults for technology development companies, professional athletic organizations, and various units of U.S. and Canadian Special Operations.
The Science & Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) | Episode 78
In this episode, I explain the biology and psychology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)—a prevalent and debilitating condition. I also discuss the efficacy and mechanisms behind OCD treatments—both behavioral and pharmacologic as well as holistic and combination treatments and new emerging treatments, including directed brain stimulation. I explain the neural circuitry underlying repetitive “thought-action loops” and why in OCD, the compulsive actions merely make the obsessions even stronger. I review cognitive-behavioral therapies like exposure therapy and SSRIs, holistic approaches, and nutraceuticals, detailing the efficacy of each approach and what science says about how to combine and sequence treatments. I describe an often effective approach for treating OCD where clinicians use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to deliberately bring patients into states of high anxiety while encouraging them to suppress compulsive actions in order to help them learn to overcome repetitious thought/action cycles. This episode should interest anyone with OCD, anyone who knows someone with OCD or OCPD, and more generally, those interested in how the brain works to control thoughts and actions, whether those thoughts are intrusive or not.
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For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com.
Timestamps
(00:00:00) Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
(00:03:01) Momentous Supplements, AG1 (Athletic Greens), Thesis, Eight Sleep
(00:08:28) What is OCD and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder?
(00:11:18) OCD: Major Incidence & Severity
(00:15:10) Categories of OCD
(00:21:33) Anxiety: Linking Obsessions & Compulsions
(00:27:33) OCD & Familial Heredity
(00:29:10) Biological Mechanisms of OCD, Cortico-Striatal-Thalamic Loops
(00:39:36) Cortico-Striatal-Thalamic Loop & OCD
(00:46:39) Clinical OCD Diagnosis, Y-BOCS Index
(00:51:38) OCD & Fear, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) & Exposure Therapy
(01:01:56) Unique Characteristics of CBT/Exposure Therapy in OCD Treatment
(01:10:18) CBT/Exposure Therapy & Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
(01:22:30) Considerations with SSRIs & Prescription Drug Treatments
(01:25:17) Serotonin & Cognitive Flexibility, Psilocybin Studies
(01:31:50) Neuroleptics & Neuromodulators
(01:36:09) OCD & Cannabis, THC & CBD
(01:39:29) Ketamine Treatment
(01:41:43) Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
(01:46:22) Cannabis CBD & Focus
(01:47:50) Thoughts Are Not Actions
(01:51:27) Hormones, Cortisol, DHEA, Testosterone & GABA
(02:00:55) Holistic Treatments: Mindfulness Meditation & OCD
(02:03:28) Nutraceuticals & Supplements: Myo-Inositol, Glycine
(02:09:45) OCD vs. Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder
(02:20:53) Superstitions, Compulsions & Obsessions
(02:31:00) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous Supplements, Instagram, Twitter, Neural Network Newsletter
Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac