Management of OCD: Focus on Psychotherapy

Abstract

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by distressing thoughts, images, or impulses that nearly always present with compensatory behaviors (ie, compulsions, avoidance) that are completed to neutralize distress. OCD is associated with lower quality of life and functional impairment. The recommended gold standard psychotherapy for OCD is exposure and response prevention (ERP), which can be tailored to account for complexities in treatment including comorbidities, family accommodation, differential insight, and suicidal ideation. ERP, whether delivered in-person or via telehealth, has substantial empirical support for its efficacy at reducing OCD symptoms in children, adolescents, and adults. Research has supported the use of ERP for both in-person and telehealth settings, which increases the ability of clinicians to provide services to a larger number of patients. This review will discuss psychotherapy for OCD, factors to consider during such therapies, and new options made available by rapid adaptation of telehealth. [ Psychiatr Ann. 2022;52(4)138–142]