You are looking for a therapist to help reduce your obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms.If you want to make sure the therapy is most effective, which two behavioral components should your therapist use?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is considered the gold standard treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and has the strongest empirical support. It involves gradual exposure to anxiety-provoking stimuli (exposure) while preventing the individual from engaging in compulsions or repetitive behaviors (response prevention). This helps to reduce anxiety and break the cycle of OCD symptoms. Systematic desensitization is useful for treating phobias and anxiety-related disorders but does not directly address the compulsions and repetitive behaviors associated with OCD. Flooding and creating a fear hierarchy can be too intense and overwhelming for individuals with OCD and can actually worsen symptoms.

You Are Looking for a Therapist to Help Reduce Your