BEHAVIORAL TREATMENT OF OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER IN AFRICAN-AMERICANS - CLINICAL ISSUES

African Americans with obsessive-compulsive disorder an underrepresent ed in behavioral treatment outcome studies. This paper consists of a c linical discussion of issues arising during the treatment with exposur e plus response prevention of two African-American women with obsessiv e-compulsive disorder. Clinical issues, such as excessive shame, insan ity fears, and a sense of uniqueness, complicated the treatment proces s. However, both clients made significant improvement as assessed by b ehavioral testing, target ratings and the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compuls ive Scale. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.