Treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
A Critical Evaluation of Three Different Methods for Treating
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
University of Southern Queensland
Introduction
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is marked by repeated obsessions: continual
thoughts or ideas, and compulsions: stereotyped acts performed in response to an
obsession (Burton, Westen & Kowalski, 2012). Patients with OCD can be any age
and there have been reports of patients suffering from the condition for over forty
years. (Burton et al., 2012). OCD is distressing and can interfere with a persons
everyday activities and symptoms will rarely disappear without patients seeking
help (Choi, 2009).
This essay analyses 3 treatments of obsessive-compulsive disorder: Individual cognitive behavioural therapy, group cognitive behavioural therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) coupled with medication. Evidence suggests that CBT together with medication provides the best results for patients suffering from this incapacitating disorder.
A Critical Evaluation of Three Different Methods for Treating
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Effective treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) include psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy and a combination of both. According to Jonsson, Hougaard & Bennedsen (2011) individual cognitive behavioural therapy saw a faster response time and quicker relief from symptoms of OCD when compared with group therapy. The study by Jonsson et al. (2011) included one hundred and ten participants all with a primary diagnosis of OCD, aged between 20 and 70 years with a Yale-Browne Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) score of >=16. Participants were randomly assigned to a treatment of fifteen sessions of group or individual cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) over a twelve week period. Group CBT sessions ran two hours with six participants and two therapists per session. Individual sessions were one
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
University of Southern Queensland
Introduction
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is marked by repeated obsessions: continual
thoughts or ideas, and compulsions: stereotyped acts performed in response to an
obsession (Burton, Westen & Kowalski, 2012). Patients with OCD can be any age
and there have been reports of patients suffering from the condition for over forty
years. (Burton et al., 2012). OCD is distressing and can interfere with a persons
everyday activities and symptoms will rarely disappear without patients seeking
help (Choi, 2009).
This essay analyses 3 treatments of obsessive-compulsive disorder: Individual cognitive behavioural therapy, group cognitive behavioural therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) coupled with medication. Evidence suggests that CBT together with medication provides the best results for patients suffering from this incapacitating disorder.
A Critical Evaluation of Three Different Methods for Treating
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Effective treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) include psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy and a combination of both. According to Jonsson, Hougaard & Bennedsen (2011) individual cognitive behavioural therapy saw a faster response time and quicker relief from symptoms of OCD when compared with group therapy. The study by Jonsson et al. (2011) included one hundred and ten participants all with a primary diagnosis of OCD, aged between 20 and 70 years with a Yale-Browne Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) score of >=16. Participants were randomly assigned to a treatment of fifteen sessions of group or individual cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) over a twelve week period. Group CBT sessions ran two hours with six participants and two therapists per session. Individual sessions were one
References: Braga, D. T., Cordioli, A.V., Niederauer, K., Manfro GG. (2005). Choi, Y. J., (2009). Efficacy of treatment for patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder: A systematic review (2001). Group Behavioural therapy of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Seven vs. Jonsson H., Hougaard E., Bennedsen B. E. (2011). Randomized comparative study of group versus individual cognitive behavioural therapy for Obsessive Compulsive