Behavioral Social Work with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Abstract

The symptomatology of obsessive-compulsive disorder is described and its negative impact on daily functioning is noted. The outcome of the application of various forms of behavioral treatment, including systematic desensitization, imaginal exposure, aversion treatment and thought-stopping is discussed with reference to theoretical formulations of the function of obsessions and compulsions vis-o-vis anxiety. Behavioral treatment via a combination of exposure to feared situations and response prevention or blocking of ritualistic behavior has proven to be the treatment of choice for this disorder. It is described here in some detail and suggestions regarding clinical issues in conducting this treatment are given. Factors identified as possible predictors of outcome include depression, anxious mood state, patients' beliefs in the probability of feared consequences, social functioning, motivation level and therapist characteristics. It is concluded that exposure and response prevention has substantially impro...