Traditional Workshop 6 - OCD Unlocked: Evidence-based CBT Strategies for Immediate Impact

Based on multiple randomized trials, CBT for OCD, with exposure and response prevention (ERP) as the key ingredient, is a first-line treatment for OCD with a very strong evidence base in the treatment of children, adolescents, and adults. This workshop will offer clinicians with the knowledge and skills to effectively treat obsessive-compulsive disorder across the lifespan using a comprehensive approach to enhance gains. The workshop will cover how to functionally assess symptoms to set goals and use and refine different strategies, including psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, cognitive defusion, exposure, and response prevention. Emphasis will be placed on (1) cognitive and meta-cognitive strategies to maximize gains, reduce suffering, and increase client willingness to engage in ERP; (2) creation of overall and operational exposure hierarchies; (3) selection of type of exposure based on symptom presentation (4) design, implementation, and motivation and commitment for response prevention to block rituals (5) Use of different treatment formats to enhance and maintain gains (6) Incorporation of families to reduce accommodation and enhance gains. A case vignette will be used to illustrate techniques. Clinicians are encouraged to ask questions and bring in treatment cases to ensure maximal learning.

Outline:

I. Overview of OCD and evidence-based CBT treatment
a. Learning objectives and comprehensive CBT treatment components
b. Diagnosis, differential diagnosis, comorbidity, and OCD variants
II. Assessment and case conceptualization
a. Structured assessments and pretreatment information gathering
b. Functional analysis, beliefs, meta-beliefs, and maintenance factors
III. Psychoeducation and treatment socialization
a. Normalizing obsessions and reducing stigma
b. Explaining CBT treatment goals and rationale
IV. Cognitive and metacognitive strategies for OCD
a. Identifying and modifying dysfunctional appraisals
b. Addressing inflated responsibility, thought-action fusion, and control of thoughts
c. Using cognitive restructuring and behavioral experiments
V. Exposure and Response Prevention
a. Presenting the rationale for ERP
b. Building imaginal and in vivo exposure hierarchies
c. Conducting exposure and implementing response prevention
VI. Enhancing ERP outcomes and maintaining gains
a. Maximizing inhibitory learning and disconfirmation of feared predictions
b. Addressing treatment complications and safety behaviors
c. Maintaining gains and preventing relapse