Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for OCD

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is especially useful for treating OCD. Studies have found CBT to be effective in significantly reducing OCD symptoms in 80% of patients not taking medication. Moreover, the skills learned in therapy can last a lifetime, whereas generally, medication stops working shortly after the person stops taking it. CBT teaches different ways of thinking, behaving, and reacting to situations that help him or her feel less anxious or fearful without having obsessive thoughts or acting compulsively.

One type of CBT treatment, called Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), is especially helpful in reducing compulsive behaviors in OCD. Follow this link to a chart comparing the effectiveness of CBT to other treatments for OCD. This therapy helps people face and control their fear and compulsive behavior. It works off the idea that anxiety is maintained by avoiding feared situations. ERP exposes patients to thoughts they would otherwise try to avoid or neutralize by using compulsive behaviors, such as hand-washing, checking, counting, etc. They are exposed to these thoughts until the anxiety ceases, thus breaking the link between the thoughts and the compulsions.  A licensed psychologist trained in cognitive behavioral therapy can provide this kind of therapy, and it can be provided weekly or semi-weekly, depending on the unique treatment needs of the patient. Click for more information about Symptoms and Treatment of Social Anxiety and Social Phobia.

Click for more information about  What CBT is and How it Works.