Treatment of OCD: A Case Study of a Man with Checking Associated with Not Just Right Experiences

Abstract

The following is a de-identified case study that presents the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). To protect the client’s anonymity, names and other identifying details have been changed. When Simon presented to treatment, this 23- year-old White male was struggling to manage OCD checking and rearranging behaviors related to maintaining a “just right” sensation. He was assessed with a general history interview, the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI 7.0), the Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), and a battery of self-report assessments. Simon solely met criteria for OCD and over the course of five months, attended 15 ERP treatment sessions. Psychoeducation, self-monitoring, in-vivo and imaginal exposures, response prevention, and behavioral strategies were utilized throughout the course of treatment. While treatment was not concluded at the submission of this report, this client demonstrated significant improvement in the management of his symptoms and his Y-BOCS scores decreased substantially.