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Out-patient, multi-modal behaviour therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder
1Universitätskrankenhaus Eppendorf, Psychiatrische und Nervenklinik, Hamburg, Germany.
The British Journal of Psychiatry. Supplement
|November 26, 1998
Summary
Behavior therapy is effective for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), but results vary. Exposure is key, yet additional interventions improve outcomes for about half of patients in community settings.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Behavior therapy is a primary treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
- Research trial results may not generalize to community-based OCD patients.
- Community care often includes patients with motivational and compliance challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a multi-modal, strategic-systemic behavior therapy for OCD.
- To evaluate the long-term outcomes of this therapy in an unselected community sample.
- To present a partially new model of OCD.
Main Methods:
- Prospective-retrospective follow-up of out-patient behavior therapy for OCD.
- Treatment delivered over 20 years to unselected community patients.
- Follow-up duration ranged from 1-13 years post-treatment.
Main Results:
- Compliant patients achieved a 65-70% success rate.
- Overall success rate, including all patients, was 50%.
- Exposure is essential, with additional interventions benefiting approximately half of patients.
Conclusions:
- Behavior therapy is effective for major OCD subgroups.
- Exposure combined with additional interventions is crucial for many patients.
- Improvements in behavior therapy and drug treatments are needed, along with predictive outcome variables.