Alcohol Makes OCD Worse: Is There Really a Connection?

Medically Reviewed By – Juliet Gustafson, LMSW

From the dawn of time people questioned the potential effects Alcohol has on mental health disorders. This is due to many factors such as social perception and the unfortunate stigma surrounding mental health illnesses. Moreover, since alcohol is widely accepted in the public eye and acts as a relief agent, people began to abuse it. So, the question remains does alcohol make OCD worse?

This post Is all about Why and How Does Alcohol Make OCD Worse

What Is OCD

OCD is a mental health disorder affecting millions of people worldwide. Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) consists of two main components, obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are the irrational thoughts and urges that occur frequently over time causing anxiety and stress. On the contrary, compulsions are the actions performed in response to obsessions in hopes of reducing levels of fear and anxiety. 

Does Alcohol Make OCD Worse? 

Yes, alcohol does in fact make OCD worse. Alcohol alters the way a normal human brain functions as it interprets neurological processes and signals differently. These side effects of drinking are detrimental when combined with Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms. 

Since OCD is highly associated with increased levels of stress and anxiety, alcohol consumption seems a “no brainer” as it will temporarily decrease anxiety levels. Because it increases serotonin levels, which can raise one’s confidence and create a relaxed mood, alcohol might temporarily relieve nervous sensations. However, these effects are short lived. As the effects of alcohol begin to leave one’s body, obsessions, intrusive thoughts and anxiety levels will increase in both severity and frequency. 

Furthermore, alcohol addiction and compulsive behavior go hand in hand. As we explained in previous articles, compulsions are mental/physical actions performed to decrease levels of anxiety. Similarly, people diagnosed with SUD (substance Use Disorder) tend to use alcoholism as a primary type of compulsive behavior. This addiction will create a dependency on drinking (compulsive act), thus worsening OCD symptoms as a whole. 

OCD and Alcohol Use Disorders

 Obsessive compulsive disorder has been heavily linked with alcohol consumption. Since alcohol is used as a relief agent, unfortunately people with OCD tend to abuse the consumption of alcohol. Furthermore, this type of excessive drinking when an individual can’t control his/her alcohol intake is called Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). Alcohol Use is a serious disorder accompanied by significant levels of impairment and distress. Moreover, it is considered one of the leading causes of mortality in the world. 

Interestingly enough, AUD is highly Comorbid with OCD. Generally Comorbid diseases “complete” each other, as having one disorder increases risk for the other disorder. In terms of anxiety disorders (OCD) and substance use disorders (AUD), this appears to be true as they seem to influence each other according to a study conducted in 2000. 

According to The Journal Of Anxiety Disorders, 27% of OCD patients met lifetime criteria for substance use disorders (SUD). Moreover, 70% of Comorbid SUD patients reported the onset of OCD preceded SUD by at least one year. 

In addition, both OCD and Alcohol Use Disorders share a common characteristic, that being compulsive behaviours. This is believed to heavily increase Comorbid symptoms between OCD and AUD. 

Related Article(s) – What Causes OCD To Get Worse?

Does Alcohol Make Intrusive Thoughts worse?

Yes, OCD affects the severity of intrusive thoughts in patients of OCD. This is due to the amount of serotonin in the brain and how alcohol negatively affects healthy levels of the neurotransmitter. 

As we discussed in previous articles, the OCD brain functions in abnormal ways. This is due to a lack of a very important neurotransmitter in the brain called serotonin. Serotonin’s function is to carry messages to and from the brain to various parts of the body. Since an OCD brain contains relatively low serotonin levels, psychological side effects such as anxiety become present. 

Moreover, alcohol has been proven to negatively impact the amount of serotonin in the brain. This is the exact opposite of what a person with OCD would want. Lower serotonin levels on top of a sedative like alcohol will definitely increase the severity of intrusive thoughts making them worse in the process. 

In addition, intrusive thoughts are usually associated with irrational scenarios and senseless thinking patterns. However, since alcohol is considered a depressant it begins to lower one’s inhibition making it harder to think consciously and logically. Thus, making intrusive thoughts worse.

Treating OCD and Alcohol Use Disorders 

Thankfully not everything is doom and gloom when it comes to OCD and Alcohol Use Disorders. There are a couple of proven treatment methods used to yield effective results. 

if you or a loved one is struggling with a substance addiction, visit SAMHSA’s National Helpline to learn about treatment options.

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) – A type of psychotherapy that has proven to be highly effective in treating OCD and other mental health disorders. This therapy helps people with OCD face their fears through gradual exposure exercises while resisting their compulsive behaviors.

Mix of ERP and Medication – One of the most common approaches in dealing with mental health disorders. A mix of psychotherapy such as ERP and taking medication such as SSRIs used to help people overcome symptoms. 

Medication – Usually used when patients delay treatment and psychotherapy alone will not provide benefits. These drugs may include a mix of SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors).

Related Article(s) – Proven Treatment Methods In OCD

Conclusion 

All in all, OCD and alcohol do not mix well. Numerous studies suggest that alcohol does in fact serve OCD patients with temporary relief that somewhat resembles the effects of performing compulsive behaviors. Moreover, since alcohol is considered an addictive substance, it really is not recommended to consume it in high quantities as it may interfere with OCD medication and slowly turn into a dependent substance to deal with the disorder. Thus, worsening OCD symptoms in the process resulting in more aggressive and severe intrusive thoughts.

This post was all about Why and How Does Alcohol Make OCD Worse

References 

• Burchi E, Makris N, Lee MR, Pallanti S, Hollander E. Compulsivity in Alcohol Use Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Implications for Neuromodulation. Front Behav Neurosci. 2019 Apr 11;13:70. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00070. PMID: 31139059; PMCID: PMC6470293.

• Mancebo MC, Grant JE, Pinto A, Eisen JL, Rasmussen SA. Substance use disorders in an obsessive compulsive disorder clinical sample. J Anxiety Disord. 2009 May;23(4):429-35. doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2008.08.008. Epub 2008 Sep 6. PMID: 18954963; PMCID: PMC2705178.

• Bradley C. Riemann, Richard J. McNally, W.Miles Cox,The comorbidity of obsessive-compulsive disorder and alcoholism,Journal of Anxiety Disorders,Volume 6, Issue 2,1992,Pages 105-110,ISSN 0887-6185,

• Virtanen S, Kuja-Halkola R, Sidorchuk A, et al. Association of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms With Substance Misuse in 2 Longitudinal Cohorts in Sweden. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(6):e2214779. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.14779

• Burchi E, Makris N, Lee MR, Pallanti S, Hollander E. Compulsivity in Alcohol Use Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Implications for Neuromodulation. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience. 2019;13:70-70. doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00070
• Virtanen S, Kuja-Halkola R, Sidorchuk A, Fernández de la Cruz L, Rück C, Lundström S, Suvisaari J, Larsson H, Lichtenstein P, Mataix-Cols D, Latvala A. Association of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms With Substance Misuse in 2 Longitudinal Cohorts in Sweden. JAMA Netw Open. 2022 Jun 1;5(6):e2214779. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.14779. PMID: 35666504; PMCID: PMC9171556.
• Burchi E, Makris N, Lee MR, Pallanti S, Hollander E. Compulsivity in Alcohol Use Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Implications for Neuromodulation. Front Behav Neurosci. 2019 Apr 11;13:70. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00070. PMID: 31139059; PMCID: PMC6470293.