Exposure and Response Prevention as an Evidence-Based Treatment for Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder: Considerations for Social Work Practice

Abstract
Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is a frequently occurring chronic mental illness involving persistent thoughts, impulses, and mental images that lead to increased anxiety and the urge to preform rituals intended to reduce anxiety. Both obsessions and compulsions can be time consuming and interfere considerably with daily functioning. Once viewed as nearly untreatable, mounting research over the past three decades has since confirmed that symptoms of OCD can significantly improve by use of exposure and response prevention (EX/RP) as an evidence-based treatment. This paper aims to present an argument for why clinical social workers should gain skills to effectively treat OCD with EX/RP. OCD and EX/RP are both described in detail followed by an evaluation of effectiveness of EX/RP and a clinical case example. Implications for social work practice are discussed.

Source: Clinical Social Work Journal - February 2, 2015 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research