The Efficacy of Exposure and Response Prevention for Geriatric Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Clinical Case Illustration

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is one of the most frequently occurring psychiatric conditions in older adults. While exposure and response prevention (ERP) is considered the most effective psychological treatment for children and adults with OCD, research investigating its effectiveness for old...

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Main Authors: Mairwen K. Jones, Bethany M. Wootton, Lisa D. Vaccaro
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Psychiatry
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/394603
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author Mairwen K. Jones
Bethany M. Wootton
Lisa D. Vaccaro
author_facet Mairwen K. Jones
Bethany M. Wootton
Lisa D. Vaccaro
author_sort Mairwen K. Jones
collection DOAJ
description Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is one of the most frequently occurring psychiatric conditions in older adults. While exposure and response prevention (ERP) is considered the most effective psychological treatment for children and adults with OCD, research investigating its effectiveness for older adults is scarce. This clinical case study investigates the effectiveness of ERP in an 80-year-old man with a 65-year history of OCD. The client received 14 individual, 50-minute ERP treatment sessions. Clinician-based Y-BOCS scores reduced by 65% from 20 (moderate) at pretreatment to 7 (subclinical) at 7-month posttreatment followup. OCI-R total scores reduced by 45% from 38 at baseline to 21 at 7-month follow-up. Despite his long history of the disorder, ERP was effective and well tolerated. The application of ERP for older adults with OCD, including age-specific modifications that may be required for this treatment approach, is discussed.
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spelling doaj-art-62f044df69f94cd791f81f5dd175ea3c2025-08-20T02:35:16ZengWileyCase Reports in Psychiatry2090-682X2090-68382012-01-01201210.1155/2012/394603394603The Efficacy of Exposure and Response Prevention for Geriatric Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Clinical Case IllustrationMairwen K. Jones0Bethany M. Wootton1Lisa D. Vaccaro2The University of Sydney Anxiety Disorders Clinic, Discipline of Behavioural and Social Sciences in Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Cumberland Campus, East Street, Lidcombe, NSW 2141, AustraliaCentre for Emotional Health, Department of Psychology, Macquarie University and Discipline of Behavioural and Social Sciences in Health, The Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Lidconbe, NSW 2113, AustraliaDiscipline of Behavioural and Social Sciences in Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Cumberland Campus, East Street, Lidcombe, NSW 2141, AustraliaObsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is one of the most frequently occurring psychiatric conditions in older adults. While exposure and response prevention (ERP) is considered the most effective psychological treatment for children and adults with OCD, research investigating its effectiveness for older adults is scarce. This clinical case study investigates the effectiveness of ERP in an 80-year-old man with a 65-year history of OCD. The client received 14 individual, 50-minute ERP treatment sessions. Clinician-based Y-BOCS scores reduced by 65% from 20 (moderate) at pretreatment to 7 (subclinical) at 7-month posttreatment followup. OCI-R total scores reduced by 45% from 38 at baseline to 21 at 7-month follow-up. Despite his long history of the disorder, ERP was effective and well tolerated. The application of ERP for older adults with OCD, including age-specific modifications that may be required for this treatment approach, is discussed.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/394603
spellingShingle Mairwen K. Jones
Bethany M. Wootton
Lisa D. Vaccaro
The Efficacy of Exposure and Response Prevention for Geriatric Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Clinical Case Illustration
Case Reports in Psychiatry
title The Efficacy of Exposure and Response Prevention for Geriatric Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Clinical Case Illustration
title_full The Efficacy of Exposure and Response Prevention for Geriatric Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Clinical Case Illustration
title_fullStr The Efficacy of Exposure and Response Prevention for Geriatric Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Clinical Case Illustration
title_full_unstemmed The Efficacy of Exposure and Response Prevention for Geriatric Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Clinical Case Illustration
title_short The Efficacy of Exposure and Response Prevention for Geriatric Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Clinical Case Illustration
title_sort efficacy of exposure and response prevention for geriatric obsessive compulsive disorder a clinical case illustration
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/394603
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