Cognitive-behavioral interventions are considered a first-line treatment of choice for OCD (Franklin % Foa, 1998; March, Frances, Carpenter, % Kahn, 1997). Although cognitive-behavioral therapy has many forms, the strongest evidence base is for exposure and response prevention (ERP). Exposure and response prevention consists of gradual, prolonged exposure to fear-eliciting stimuli or situations, combined with strict abstinence from compulsive behavior. In practice, this means that a patient with contamination concerns would be encouraged to touch progressively more contaminated objects while simultaneously refraining from washing or cleaning. Similarly, a patient with obsessive concerns about harming other people while driving might be encouraged to drive in increasingly congested areas without looking in the rear-view mirror. The purpose of exposure exercises is to allow the patient to experience a reduction of their fear response, recognize that these situations are not excessively dangerous, and learn that their fear will not persist indefinitely. Thus, ERP's mechanisms of action may include modification of maladaptive cognitions as well as the “behavioral” mechanisms of habituation and extinction (Foa % Kozak, 1986).
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2005 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Tolin, D.F., Hannan, S. (2005). The Role of the Therapist in Behavior Therapy for OCD. In: Abramowitz, J.S., Houts, A.C. (eds) Concepts and Controversies in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Series in Anxiety and Related Disorders. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-23370-9_16
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-23370-9_16
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-23280-5
Online ISBN: 978-0-387-23370-3
eBook Packages: Behavioral ScienceBehavioral Science and Psychology (R0)