Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) Therapy for OCD

What is the primary goal of Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy for OCD?

How does ERP therapy provide relief to individuals with OCD?

Which therapy technique forms the basis of Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy?

What percentage of patients undergoing ERP therapy for OCD experience relief from symptoms according to research?

Who is credited with creating Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy for OCD?

In ERP therapy for OCD, what is the role of relaxation skills?

What is the purpose of compulsive behaviors in people with OCD?

Which of the following is a common compulsion for people with OCD?

How does ERP therapy help people with OCD?

What is an example of response prevention in ERP therapy?

How do obsessive thoughts change over time with ERP therapy?

What aspect of OCD does teen ERP therapy primarily aim to address?

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) Therapy

ERP therapy is a highly effective therapeutic modality for relieving OCD symptoms, by interrupting the cycle of obsessions and compulsions.
It provides relief from distressing and intrusive thoughts, as well as the repetitive behaviors associated with OCD.

Characteristics of ERP Therapy

ERP therapy is a type of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy that gives people with OCD greater insight into their obsessions and compulsions.
It provides patients with skills for preventing compulsive behaviors they typically use in response to obsessions.

Effectiveness of ERP Therapy

Research has shown ERP therapy to be extremely effective for OCD, with 80 percent of ERP patients experiencing relief from OCD symptoms.
ERP therapy is now considered the gold standard of care for OCD.

History of ERP Therapy

ERP therapy was created by Stanley Robinson in the 1970s, drawing from past studies on classical conditioning.
Robinson's work was influenced by behavioral scientists such as Ivan Pavlov, John Watson, and Joseph Wolpe.
Wolpe's method of systematic desensitization forms the basis of ERP therapy.

Understanding OCD

People with OCD experience cycles of obsessions and compulsions, triggered by situations, people, or objects.
Common obsessions include fear of germs, fear of harm to oneself or others, taboo thoughts, and dread of making a mistake.
Compulsions include counting, repeated handwashing, checking, and specific repetitive thoughts.

How ERP Therapy Works

ERP therapy appears to address compulsive behaviors, but ultimately weakens the obsessive thoughts that trigger those compulsions.
Over time, patients learn to cope with their obsessions, reducing their frequency and intensity.
An example of ERP therapy involves exposure to a feared object (e.g. a doorknob), followed by response prevention techniques to resist compulsive behaviors (e.g. repeated handwashing).

Learn about Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy, one of the most effective therapeutic modalities for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Understand how ERP therapy interrupts the cycle of obsessions and compulsions, providing relief from distressing thoughts and repetitive behaviors. Explore how ERP therapy is a type of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy that offers greater insight into OCD.