OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER - COGNITIVE -BEHAVIORAL APPROACH

Cognitive-behavioral therapy which is effectively used in the treatmen t of many psychological disorders is based on cognitive and behavioral formulations of such disorders. Exposure strategies are successfully used in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder, especially whe n obsessions are followed by compulsive behaviors, However, there has been a delay in the development of a comprehensive cognitive formulati on of obsessional disorders. In this article characteristics of obsess ions are discussed, Salkovskis' cognitive and behavioral analysis of o bsessions are summarized and therapy implications are considered.