Two monotherapies are efficacious for adults with OCD: pharmacotherapy with serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs, ie, clomipramine and the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) consisting of exposure and response prevention (ERP). Expert consensus treatment guidelines for adults with OCD (March, Frances, Carpenter, & Kahn, 1997) recommend ERP monotherapy be offered to every OCD patient when available and that it be the first treatment sed with patients with milder OCD. Serotonin reuptake inhibitor monotherapy or SRI + ERP treatment is recommended for adults with more severe OCD. In this chapter, we examine data supporting the premise that combining SRI and ERP treatment is more effective than either treatment alone. We conclude that for adults with OCD, combination therapy (SRI + ERP) is warranted in specific clinical situations.
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© 2005 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc
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Simpson, H.B., Liebowitz, M.R. (2005). Combining Pharmacotherapy and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in the Treatment of OCD. In: Abramowitz, J.S., Houts, A.C. (eds) Concepts and Controversies in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Series in Anxiety and Related Disorders. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-23370-9_18
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-23370-9_18
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