title: Current treatment approaches to obsessive-compulsive disorder.
abstract: The two most useful treatments in obsessive-compulsive disorder are pharmacotherapy with potent serotonin reuptake-blocking agents and behavioral techniques, such as exposure and response prevention. Based on the authors' cumulative clinical experience, it is suggested that patient education, cognitive therapy, and psychodynamic psychotherapy are helpful adjuncts during various treatment stages of obsessive-compulsive disorder. The patient's strengths and knowledge of the illness can be used by the nurse-therapist to determine the implementation and timing of these therapeutic measures. Specific behavioral and cognitive techniques that may be useful in treating specific symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder are highlighted. Suggestions for future nursing research are outlined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT.
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Boyarsky
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Perone
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Goodman
mesh_terms: D001521:Behavior Therapy; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005196:Family Therapy; D006801:Humans; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D012702:Serotonin Antagonists