Psychotherapeutic management of obsessive-compulsive disorder with exposure and response prevention and cognitive therapy: A case study

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by recurrent, unwanted, distressing thoughts and resulted compulsive behavior. The management of obsessive-Compulsive disorder was the aim of this study. This was a case of a 23-year-old girl with chief complaints of intrusive thoughts of dead-bodies and the fear that thought of dead-body would contaminate everything around like foods, things etc.; repetitive handwashing, cleaning house, dressing-undressing, braiding hairs, taking showers many times a day for long hours, eating less due to fear of contamination and crossing same place repetitively. Y-BOCS, Cognitive Distortion Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory was administered before and after the therapy. Exposure & response prevention and cognitive therapy was used for the management purpose. Marked improvement was seen in the patient regarding her obsession and compulsions. Exposure & response prevention and cognitive therapy was successful in alleviating the symptoms of OCD.