Cognitive Therapy for Obsessive-compulsive Disorder: A Guide for Professionals - Softcover

Wilhelm S

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1572244291 ISBN 13: 9781572244290

Publisher: New Harbinger Publications, 2006

Synopsis

A Cognitive Approach to Treating Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Based on research funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, this manual presents for the first time a purely cognitive approach to treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This approach avoids the highly distressing exposure component of exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP) that is commonly used to treat the symptoms of OCD. Not only does this cognitive therapy (CT) approach open up the option of psychotherapy to those OCD sufferers who resist exposure-based therapy, it also holds great promise for treating OCD sufferers with mental rituals as well as those who struggle concurrently with depression, anxiety, and other symptoms.

The strategies described in this book focus intensively on the intrusive thoughts that can trigger negative beliefs and drive compulsive behaviors. The manual begins with a brief review of current facts about OCD. Then it describes how cognitive therapy can be applied to OCD. The several treatment modules that follow outline a brief three-to-four session approach therapists can use to help clients make real progress on their OCD beliefs and behavioral symptoms. Each module is complemented by a series of client worksheets and handouts.

This purely cognitive approach to OCD offers a number of benefits including:

•CT avoids the discomfort of prolonged exposure and response prevention (ERP)
•The therapy can be conducted entirely in the therapist's office
•CT is especially useful for patients with mental rituals and neutralizing strategies
•The treatment is based on NIMH-funded research and is empirically supported

About this title

Review

Wilhelm and Steketee have produced a step-by-step manual that is eminently practical and well grounded in theory and research. This book provides an evidence-based alternative to traditional behavioral treatments for OCD. It will be required reading for all of my students who treat OCD, and it should be read by anyone who works with this complex problem. It will certainly influence the way I approach OCD in my own practice.
--Martin M. Antony, Ph.D., ABPP, director of the Anxiety Treatment and Research Centre at St. Joseph's Healthcare in Hamilton, ON, and author of When Perfect Isn't Good Enough and several other books

About the Author

Sabine Wilhelm, PhD, is associate professor of psychology at the Harvard Medical School and director of the Cognitive Behavior Therapy Program and clinical director of the Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Clinic, at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Edition details

• Publisher: New Harbinger Publications
• Publication date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1572244291
• ISBN 13: 9781572244290
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 240