© 2003 Oxford University Press
Treatments for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Deciding What Method for Whom
From the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
Contact author: Jonathan S. Abramowitz, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905. E-mail: abramowitz.jonathan{at}mayo.edu.
The aim of the present paper was to address variables that should be considered in deciding the optimal treatment modality for individual patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). We begin by briefly discussing strengths and limitations of the various empirically supported treatments for this disorder. Next we discuss general factors, such as demographics and familial support, that may contribute to the treatment decision-making process. Following this, we describe factors related to the presentation of OCD (e.g., insight, comorbidity) that may impact such decisions. It is important to rely on both empirical findings and informed clinical judgment when deciding which treatment(s) to recommend for patients. For this reason, familiarity with the research literature as a backdrop to thoroughly assessing the relevant variables is imperative for clinicians working with OCD patients. [Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention 3:261273 (2003)]
KEY WORDS: obsessive-compulsive disorder, treatment decisions, cognitive-behavior therapy, medication