Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - Best-Practice Intervention Strategies*

• Participate in a psychiatric evaluation and take all medications as prescribed
• Use a thought stopping strategy to interrupt cognitive obsessions
• Practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing
• Consider learning and practicing the Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) technique by confronting feared situations and objects (exposure) and resist performing compulsive rituals (response prevention)
• Recognize, discuss, and refute dysfunctional beliefs (e.g., magical or catastrophic thinking patterns)
• Develop and practice a daily ritual to interfere with the current compulsive pattern
• Identify, verbalize, and address unresolved life issues
• Provide psycho-education for family members and encourage their support for the patient during treatment
• Develop and practice positive self-talk

* Compiled by Cenpatico from multiple sources; citations available upon request.
Last Updated 1/27/11