Department of Medicine

For those with debilitating OCD, a surgical procedure can help

Written by Colorado Public Radio | January 19, 2023

Deep brain stimulation is increasingly being used for people suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD, which affects about three percent of the population. Dr. Moksha Patel, who's a physician at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, suffered from debilitating symptoms of OCD, including obsessive hand-washing, showering, even using cleaning agents like bleach to clean his body. He said the symptoms made him feel like a prisoner of his own mind and kept him from many day-to-day activities.