Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure and response prevention is one of the most effective treatments available for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This treatment avoids side effects that are common to management of symptoms with psychotropic medication and has the added benefit of reducing the risk for relapse once medication is discontinued. Development of a treatment plan involves identification and ranking of stimuli that provoke obsessions, exposure to these stimuli while preventing compulsions through various techniques, and use of cognitive restructuring. The family of the OCD patient plays a significant role in treatment. The family’s accommodation and emotional response to a patient’s obsessions and compulsions may interfere with therapy and perpetuate symptoms. The same considerations apply to OCD in the pediatric population. However, the form of obsessions and compulsions differs according to age, and therapeutic techniques are modified to make them developmentally appropriate.