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Focus on "cognition" in cognitive behavior therapy for ocd: is it really necessary?
1Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick, New Brunswick, Canada. clark@unb.ca
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
|October 1, 2005
Summary
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is increasingly used for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), building on behavioral treatments. While its clinical utility requires more research, cognitive approaches remain vital for OCD treatment.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) treatment has evolved, with a growing emphasis on cognitive aspects.
- Standard behavioral treatments for OCD, while effective, have limitations prompting newer approaches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the evolution of OCD treatment towards cognitive-behavioral approaches.
- To critically evaluate the comparative efficacy of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) versus exposure and response prevention (ERP) for OCD.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for OCD.
- Critical analysis of comparative treatment outcome studies comparing CBT and exposure and response prevention (ERP).
Main Results:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) represents a significant development in OCD treatment.
- Evidence for the superior clinical utility of cognitive approaches in OCD compared to ERP is not yet consistently demonstrated.
Conclusions:
- The integration of cognitive strategies into OCD treatment is a notable trend.
- Further research is necessary to fully elucidate the role and effectiveness of cognitive formulations in OCD management before they are disregarded.
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