Rosh Psychiatry Board Practice Exam

The primary therapeutic approach for managing obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). ERP is a specific form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) that directly addresses the compulsions and obsessions that characterize OCD.

In ERP, patients are gradually exposed to their feared situations or thoughts while being guided to refrain from their usual compulsive responses. This process helps individuals to confront their fears in a controlled manner, thereby reducing the anxiety associated with those fears over time. Through repeated practice, patients learn that their anxiety decreases even without engaging in compulsive behaviors. This technique is highly effective and is considered the gold standard in the treatment of OCD.

While Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as a broader category plays a significant role in treating OCD, it is the specific techniques of Exposure and Response Prevention that are most directly targeted at the main symptoms of the disorder. Medication management can also enhance treatment efficacy by addressing symptoms, but ERP remains central to helping patients learn to manage their OCD in a functional way. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) offers valuable strategies for emotional acceptance and commitment to values but is not the primary form of treatment for OCD specifically.