OCD: CBT treatment

Question 1

aim of it

Answer 1

it is a dual process based on challenging inappropriate thoughts and adapting new behavioural responses through conditioning.
- the therapy first needs to identify dysfunctional thoughts and then modify them.
- it uses two scientifically based techniques to change a persons thoughts and behaviour: cognitive therapy and exposure and response prevention ERP.

Question 2

the cognitive part

Answer 2

• aim is to identify and modify patterns of thinking which trigger anxiety.
• intrusive thoughts cause beliefs that activate the negative emotion so the goal is not to remove the thought but to change the belief they trigger.
• the therapist asks the client to identify a episode of intrusive thinking and to then challenge the meaning of them by exploring what made them anxiety provoking.

Question 3

the behavioural part

Answer 3

ERP requires the person to be highly motivated as it involves voluntarily exposing yourself to the source of fear over and over again, without acting out any compulsions to stop fear.
- by preventing these behaviours, ERP teaches people that they can tolerate their distress without turning to compulsions.

the first stage is to create a hierarchy of fear
then working through each stage which involves resiting compulsion to perform the usual rituals.
the client should record anxiety levels and should be repeated until symptoms are reduced.

Question 4

appropriateness

Answer 4

• may not be right treatment for sufferers who do not experience compulsions.
• for example it was found that about 44% only suffer from obsessions.
• they also found that up to 75 suffer with comorbid depression, which lessens the effect of ERP. in fact having persistent depressive symptoms after therapy was a strong predictor of relapse.
  this suggests that a cognitive therapy combined with drug treatment would be more beneficial.
• some people cannot cope with effort and distress involved.
  a large part of its success is dependant on the motivation of the client. for some this might be too much time and determination and be beyond their willpower.
• this suggests that it is not right for everyone, only those who are committed.
  CA= however, if coped with, it provides more long term benefits and no side effects of drugs.

Question 5

practical

Answer 5

cost effective
can be done online/in person

Question 6

effectiveness

Answer 6

fisher and wells used a standardised procedure to measure the effectiveness of different types of therapy and concluded that ERP is the most, showing a 50-60% REDUCTION IN SYMPTOMS.
CA= however, ERP combined with drug therapy might be better. it was found that a combination of an anti depressant and ERP. was more effective than either alone.
this suggests that although ERP has shown to be effective in treating OCD, it is even more effective when paired with drugs.

Question 7

ethics

Answer 7

it is an ethical treatment as it allows the person to take control of their own treatment because they identify the specific issues to work on, however it may be uncomfortable for them as they have to face their fears.
unlike drugs, no side effects.