When OCD Drugs Fail, Could Exposure Therapy Reduce Symptoms?

Exposure and response prevention therapy (EXRP) can significantly improve symptoms in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) when drug therapies have failed, according to a recent study.

Note: EXRP involves patients with OCD confronting triggers and refraining from performing the rituals associated with these triggers.
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In their crossover study, researchers followed 32 patients with OCD who did not respond to risperidone who received 17 weeks of EXRP treatment.

Patients showed significant improvement at 12 and 16 weeks of treatment. Overall, 78% of patients completed the full 17 weeks, of which, 53% were classified as treatment responders and 34% were classified as excellent responders after 32-weeks of follow-up. After changes in medication, the remaining participants also shifted to excellent responders.

“We want patients to know that there is another option, if common drug treatments have failed them,” researchers concluded.

“The therapy can be life-saving, if patients are aware of it.”

 —Michael Potts

Reference:

Penn Medicine. Adults with OCD can benefit from exposure therapy when common drug treatment options fail, Penn study finds [press release]. November 11, 2015. http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/news/News_Releases/2015/11/ocd/.