Reviewed byArman Magzhanov, MDPsychiatrist, experience 24 years · updated 8 Nov 2026
Key facts
- ICD-10 code
- F42
- Who provides care
- A psychiatrist and a psychotherapist trained in exposure therapy
- Where
- An office in Almaty, online by video, home visits if needed
- Duration
- A CBT course of 12–20 sessions, medication for 12 months or more
- Anonymity
- No documents required and no dispensary registration
- When it’s urgent
- Suicidal thoughts, refusing food and water because of rituals — call 103
- Outcome
- Rituals take less time, and thoughts lose their power over your life
What you should know
Urgent calls about OCD are rare, but they stick in the memory. It’s night, and a wife calls: her husband has been washing his hands for three hours, his skin is cracked, and he can’t stop. Or the mother of a teenager from the Bostandyk district: her son can’t leave the house because he keeps checking the iron and the stove again and again, and he is late for school. The dispatcher checks whether there is a threat to life and connects the on-call psychiatrist by video to help get through the acute moment and agree on treatment.
People with OCD are deeply ashamed of their thoughts and rituals. Many hide them for years even from loved ones because they understand that it isn’t logical. So at the appointment, the first thing I say is that intrusive thoughts are not desires and not a sign that the person is bad or dangerous. It is a glitch in how the brain works, one that is well studied and treatable. After that, it usually becomes easier to talk, and we work out which rituals take up the most time.
OCD symptoms
- intrusive thoughts about contamination, dirt, or illness that are hard to shake off
- repeated handwashing, cleaning, and laundry, after which things still feel “dirty”
- constantly checking locks, the stove, the iron, taps, or documents
- frightening thoughts about harming loved ones, even though there is no wish to do so
- a need to arrange things symmetrically, count, or repeat actions
- rituals take more than an hour a day, making the person late and exhausted
- avoiding places and objects that trigger intrusive thoughts
If two or three points apply, it is worth seeing a doctor. Phone advice is free and confidential. If life is at risk, call 103 or 112.
What causes OCD
OCD is linked to how certain areas of the brain work — those responsible for assessing danger and shifting attention. Heredity plays a role: the disorder is more common among relatives of people with OCD. The first symptoms usually appear in adolescence or young adulthood, sometimes in childhood. The onset or a flare-up often coincides with stress, the birth of a child, an illness, or a move.
The mechanism that keeps OCD going is simple and insidious. An intrusive thought causes anxiety, a ritual relieves it for a while, and the brain learns that the ritual helps. Next time it has to be repeated more times. This is how rituals grow and take over hours of the day. Loved ones who, with the best intentions, help carry out rituals or constantly offer reassurance unwittingly keep this cycle going.
How OCD treatment works
You can start with a video consultation, which is convenient if leaving the house has turned into a ritual, or if you live in the Alatau district or Otegen Batyr and the trip takes a lot of time. The psychiatrist asks about thoughts and rituals, how much time they take, and about mood and sleep. A standardized OCD severity scale is used. Based on this, a plan is drawn up: psychotherapy with exposure, medication, or a combination. Therapy sessions take place once a week, and the psychiatrist monitors progress every 2–4 weeks.
OCD is treated on an outpatient basis, but there are situations when that isn’t enough: rituals prevent the person from eating, drinking, or sleeping, they can’t leave the bathroom, or severe depression with suicidal thoughts has developed. Then inpatient care may be needed. If there is a direct threat to life, call 103 or 112. Teenagers and young people can use the 150 helpline.
How we help
Exposure and response prevention
The main psychotherapy method for OCD according to NICE guidelines. The Narcology 24 psychotherapist and the patient make a list of situations that cause anxiety, from easy to hard. The person gradually faces them and learns not to perform the ritual. Anxiety rises at first and then falls on its own, and the brain relearns. A course is usually 12–20 sessions.
Cognitive therapy
Helps change the person’s relationship with intrusive thoughts. They learn that a thought is not a fact or an intention, and that an exaggerated sense of responsibility and the drive for complete certainty keep the disorder going. This reduces shame and fear and makes exposure easier. CBT methods can be used in person or online, and for many patients both are equally effective.
Medication
For moderate and severe OCD, medications from the antidepressant group that act on the serotonin system are prescribed. In OCD, the effect develops more slowly than in depression — over 8–12 weeks — and treatment usually continues for at least a year. The medication and regimen are tailored to each person, and they are stopped gradually and only under a doctor’s supervision.
Working with the family
Loved ones are often drawn into the rituals: they double-check things for the person, answer the same questions over and over, and avoid “dangerous” topics. The doctor and psychotherapist explain to the family how to support without feeding the disorder and how to gradually stop taking part in rituals without conflict. This noticeably speeds up treatment and reduces tension at home.
Myths and facts
MythOCD is just a love of order and cleanliness
FactNeatness is a personality trait, whereas OCD is a disorder in which rituals are driven by anxiety, take up hours, and get in the way of life. A person with OCD gets no pleasure from them and would like to stop.
MythIf I have thoughts about harming loved ones, I must be dangerous
FactIntrusive thoughts in OCD go against the person’s wishes, which is why they are so frightening. People with OCD do not act on what they obsessively think about. It’s important to discuss this with a doctor to ease the fear. You can talk about such thoughts openly with a psychiatrist.
MythOCD can’t be treated — you just have to accept it
FactExposure and response prevention and medication help most patients. Symptoms don’t always disappear completely, but control over life returns. Starting early speeds up results.
How a home visit works
- Call or message usThe dispatcher answers 24/7 and in 3–5 minutes checks the person's condition, age, how long the drinking or use has lasted, chronic conditions and the address. No surname needed.
- The doctor sets offAn addiction doctor or psychiatrist comes with equipment and medication. Travel time depends on the district — usually within an hour. If inpatient care or an ambulance is needed, we'll say so straight away.
- Examination and treatmentBlood pressure, pulse, oxygen saturation, blood sugar if needed and a neurological check. Then an IV drip or other treatment as indicated, 1–3 hours.
- A plan for the next daysAdvice for the family on what to do overnight and tomorrow, phone follow-up and a repeat visit if needed.
- Further treatmentCoding, psychotherapy, rehab or psychiatric follow-up — once the acute state has passed and the person is ready.
Prices in Almaty
| Psychiatrist consultation | 15 000 ₸ |
| Follow-up consultation | 12 000 ₸ |
| Psychotherapy session (50 min) | 15 000 ₸ |
| Phone advice | free |
The final cost is agreed before treatment starts. Prices are in tenge and do not constitute a public offer.
Where to get help
In almaty you can get help at home, at one of our two branches (84 Zhandosova St., Almaty, 21 Seyfullina Ave., office 11, Almaty) or online if you need a consultation rather than a procedure. The dispatcher answers 24/7 and will tell you straight away which option is safest.
Confidential and private
Information about your request, diagnosis and treatment is protected by medical confidentiality under the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”. We do not share it with employers, schools, the police or neighbours; the only exceptions are those expressly set by law. A first name is enough to call us, and paid confidential treatment does not mean a registry entry.
Questions and answers
How can I tell OCD from ordinary anxiety?
In OCD, there are specific intrusive thoughts and rituals that the person feels compelled to perform to reduce anxiety, and they take more than an hour a day. With ordinary anxiety, the worry is vague and doesn’t require rituals. A psychiatrist can help you sort this out at a consultation.
How long does OCD treatment take?
A course of psychotherapy with exposure is usually 12–20 weekly sessions. If medications are prescribed, the first results appear after 8–12 weeks, and treatment continues for at least a year after improvement. OCD requires patience, but the results are lasting.
Can OCD be treated online only?
Yes, CBT with exposure by video works well for OCD: the psychotherapist can see the person doing the exercises at home, in familiar surroundings. It is worth meeting in person if the condition is severe or there is accompanying depression that requires monitoring.
Does it help when loved ones reassure and double-check?
In the short term, yes, but in the long run it keeps OCD going: the brain learns that anxiety can’t be relieved without double-checking. The doctor will suggest how to gradually stop taking part in rituals while keeping warmth and support and without creating conflict.
Can OCD start in childhood?
Yes, the first signs often appear in childhood and adolescence. A child may hide their rituals, so parents should pay attention to long preparations to leave the house, repetitive questions, and handwashing. A Narcology 24 psychiatrist will consult the family and suggest next steps.
Can OCD go away completely?
For many people, symptoms decrease so much that they no longer get in the way of life. Some have flare-ups during stress, but the skills learned in therapy help them cope quickly. It’s important not to stop treatment too early and to see a doctor at the first signs of a return.
Where do doctors visit in Almaty and where are the branches?
Home visits cover all city districts and nearby settlements, 24/7. Appointments at two branches: 84 Zhandosova St., Almaty and 21 Seyfullina Ave., office 11, Almaty. Phone in Almaty: +7 (700) 309-29-88.
Sources and methodology
This page was prepared by the Narcology 24 medical editorial team based on:
- International Classification of Diseases ICD-10 and ICD-11, World Health Organization
- Clinical diagnosis and treatment protocols of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan
- Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”
- NICE (UK) guidelines on alcohol and drug misuse and mental health conditions
- WHO recommendations on the treatment of substance use disorders
This information is for reference only and does not replace a consultation with a specialist. Editorial policy
