Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-Effects and Efficacy in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is complex mental health problem often presented with depression as co-morbid condition and sometimes with psychotic symptoms discussed since more than 100 years. The presentation of the problem has been changed with time after developments in diagnostic systems/criteria. For the management of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder several pharmacological and non pharmacological intervention systems have been developed in last three decades but still results are not very encouraging. Since recent past several cognitive based treatment procedures giving evidence based results being applied successfully in the management of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder successfully. In present study 30 patients diagnosed according to ICD-10 criteria from the out-patient department of hospitals and psychiatric clinics were selected. They were given Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Psychological Flexibility, Thought Suppression, Mindfulness Skills, and Symptom Severity. Results suggest that significant improvement in Psychological Flexibility, decrement in Thought Suppression, enhancement of Mindfulness Skills of 'Acting with Awareness ’and 'Acceptance without Judgment ’, and clinically significant reduction in symptoms was recorded.