A comparative study of family-based and patient-based behavioural management in obsessive-compulsive disorder

Thirty obsessive-compulsive patients were randomly allocated to two treatment conditions. In group A a significant family member was trained to act as cotherapist at home, whereas in group B, only the patient was seen and given home assignments. All 30 patients received a similar treatment regime of systematic desensitisation, exposure, and response prevention. The family-based approach resulted in greater improvement in anxiety, depression, obsessive symptoms, and in social adjustment in occupational and household responsibilities. The personality pattern of the family members also appeared to influence outcome.