Enhancement of Self-Conducted Exposure for OCD Using Cognitive Bias Modification: A Case Study

The psychological treatment of choice for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is exposure and response prevention (ERP). However, the training required for practitioners to be proficient in delivering ERP is not readily available, thereby rendering the treatment inaccessible to most patients. Self-directed ERP (sERP) programs designed to increase the accessibility of ERP have not proven effective, perhaps because patients find it difficult to comply with exposure exercises without the guidance of a clinician. Research on cognitive bias modification (CBM) suggests that CBM may help individuals approach feared situations. In this case study, a patient with OCD completed a 7-week treatment program that combines sERP with CBM. Treatment led to a significant decrease in OCD symptoms and functional impairment. Results suggest that this novel treatment, which requires only an initial couple of sessions with a clinician trained in ERP, has the potential to increase the accessibility of ERP for patients with OCD.