Application of Cognitive-behavioral Therapy in a Case of Obsessive-compulsive Disorder

We present the case report of a 46-year-old woman who experienced obsessive-compulsive symptoms for over twenty years, with multiple relapses, severe depressive symptoms and many hospitalizations in the psychiatric Inpatient Unit. Treatment with different SSRIs, tricyclic antidepressants, atypical antipsychotics and even electroconvulsive therapy were administered with poor results.After her last hospitalization a Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, including exposure and response prevention and cognitive therapy, is initiated combined with medication, improving depressive symptoms, the ritual behaviors and levels of anxiety.Modern treatments for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) have radically changed how the disorder is viewed. While in the past OCD was regarded as chronic and untreatable, a diagnosis of OCD may now be regarded with hope. Cognitive and behavior therapy and antidepressant medications are currently used to treat the disorder. They can be used to control the symptoms and enable people with OCD to restore normal function in their lives.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.