Therapies for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Introduction
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental illness that can strike anyone at any time. Obsessions and compulsions are hallmarks of this disorder, which causes people to feel compelled to engage in ritualistic, repetitive actions. An individual's standard of living can be severely compromised by obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This emphasizes the significance of receiving timely care. This paper will analyze the many approaches taken to treating obsessive-compulsive disorder. Medication, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) are the three basic treatments for OCD that will be reviewed.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Psychotherapy
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The therapist will lead the patient through the exposure process, teaching him or her to manage the anxiety without resorting to compulsion.
ERP's purpose is to assist the patient overcome their fears and urges to act irrationally when confronted by their obsessions. The individual learns that their anxiety will naturally lessen over time, without the need for compulsive actions, by gradually approaching the frightening circumstance without performing compulsions. This aids in breaking the vicious loop of obsessive and compulsive thinking and acting that keeps the disorder alive and well.
McGuire et al. (2012) conducted a meta-analysis that concluded that Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is an effective treatment for OCD. The theory behind exposure and response prevention (ERP) is that compulsive habits are learned reactions to stressful circumstances. The therapist is training the patient to deal with worry without resorting to obsessive behavior by prohibiting the patient from engaging in it. The obsessive thoughts and the accompanying worry will eventually subside, and the compulsive activity will become
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