Psychological Intervention in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Case Study

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by the presence of obsessions and/or compulsions that consume time and significantly interfere with the individual's daily routines, work, family or social life, causing marked distress. Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is the psychological treatment of choice for OCD. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) along with ERP is more effective to reduce or eliminate the person's maladaptive appraisals of the personal significance of the intrusive thoughts. A case study of a patient who came with chief complaints of low mood, excessive worry, anxiety excessive washing of hands&household articles with disturbed day to day activities. Who was brought by her family members for treatment and management in Deptt.of Psychiatry, PGIMS, Rohtak is reported here. For management of patient following assessment was done. A detail behavior Analysis was done to assess the frequency, duration, intensity and distress related to problem behavior. Yale Brown Obsessive compulsive Scale (YBOCS), Beck Depression inventory (BDI-II) and visual analogue scale (VAS) was also applied. After assessments 16 sessions of ERP and CBT was given to manage the patient. After therapy a post assessment of symptoms was also done. Finding reveal improvement in YBOC, BDI-II scores and distress on VAS. Psychological intervention play important role in management of OCD symptoms.