5/12/2022 Grand Rounds

OCD and ERP: The Use of Evidence Based Therapy and the Elimination of Safety Seeking Behaviors

Speaker:Patrick B. McGrath, Ph.D

Patrick B. McGrath, Ph.D.
Chief Clinical Officer for NOCD; Lead Psychologists, Ascension Illinois, Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital; President, Anxiety Centers of Illinois

While the treatment of many conditions can be addressed through a standard Cognitive Behavioral Therapy regimen, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder requires emphasis on the B of CBT. That B part of therapy is called Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (ERP). While many therapies may focus on the delivery of coping strategies and techniques to try to make the problem go away as quickly as possible, ERP involves exposing people to their fears and teaching them how to live with discomfort instead of trying to make it go away. In this lecture we will review what OCD is, what the various subtypes of it are, and how to treat it using evidence-based practices. Out with safety behaviors and in with discomfort!

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe what OCD is and its various subtypes.

2. Discuss the basics of ERP treatment for OCD and why it is more helpful than a standard CBT approach.

3. Discuss the role of the five safety behaviors that maintain anxiety and OCD and how to help patients challenge them.