An integrative brief treatment approach for obsessive-compulsive disorder

This article reports on the integrated application of cognitive therapy, tr ansactional analysis techniques, and the behavioral technique of response p revention using self-instructional training and behavioral substitution in a brief therapy approach. These methods were applied in the case of a young man who presented with compulsions to perform repetitive and ordering ritu als with the belief that it would prevent his girlfriend from becoming preg nant. A al-year-old white male who had performed 3 to 5 hours of rituals da ily for several years was able to eliminate the majority of his compulsive behaviors and reduce his level of anxiety after eight clinical therapy sess ions. Results were maintained at 6-month follow-up. The clear precipitating factors and the unusual maintaining variables for the disorder in the clie nt are described. The author discusses the case in light of current theoret ical, therapeutic, and biomedical understandings of the disorder.