Dynamic Psychotherapy: The Therapeutic Process in the Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a chronic mental disorder causing significant distress and functional impairment.
• Traditional psychoanalysis has limitations in addressing specific patient needs for short-term problem-solving.
• A literature gap exists regarding the efficacy of Dynamic Psychotherapy (DP) for OCD treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of Dynamic Psychotherapy (DP) in treating patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
• To analyze the therapeutic processes and mechanisms of DP in the context of OCD.

Main Methods:

• A narrative literature review was conducted.
• Two clinical cases of OCD patients treated with DP were analyzed.
• Therapeutic processes, patient specificities, and DP mechanisms were discussed.

Main Results:

• Patients exhibited high anxiety, guilt, and inhibited impulses.
• DP facilitated emotional exploration, confrontation of defenses, and interpretation of inner conflicts.
• Patients gained awareness of hidden feelings, experienced reduced symptoms and guilt, and improved interpersonal relationships.

Conclusions:

• Dynamic Psychotherapy (DP) shows favorable outcomes for OCD treatment, despite not being a short-term therapy.
• The therapist's active stance is crucial for encouraging patients to face fears and identify core conflicts.
• DP can lead to long-term positive results for individuals with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.