Quantitative review of the controlled treatment outcome literature for obsessive–compulsive
disorder (OCD) showed that exposure with response prevention was highly effective in
reducing OCD symptoms. Cognitive approaches were also found to be at least as effective
as exposure procedures. It appears that both cognitive and exposure interventions involve
some overlapping procedures and capitalize on similar mechanisms of change.
Serotonergic medication, particularly clomipramine, also substantially reduced OCD …

Quantitative review of the controlled treatment outcome literature for obsessive-compulsive
disorder (OCD) showed that exposure with response prevention was highly effective in
reducing OCD symptoms. Serotonergic medication, particularly clomipramine, also
substantially reduced OCD symptoms. OCD involves intrusive and unwanted thoughts,
ideas, or images that lead to increased anxiety; and repetitious, intentional rituals performed
to neutralize the anxiety. Until a decade ago, OCD was thought to be a rare condition with a …