Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is primarily used for which disorder?

• A. A pharmacological treatment for PTSD.
• B. Exposure to triggers and prevention of compulsive responses.
• C. A relaxation technique for generalized anxiety.
• D. A psychoanalytic technique for phobias.

Answer: (B)

Exposure and Response Prevention targets obsessive-compulsive disorder. It uses deliberate exposure to triggers or obsessions while deliberately refraining from performing the ritual or compulsive behavior that normally follows. The idea is to break the link between the trigger and the urge to perform the ritual, allowing anxiety to fade with repeated exposure (habituation) and reducing the need for compulsions over time. This approach is a form of evidence-based behavioral therapy, distinct from pharmacological treatments, general relaxation techniques, or psychoanalytic methods. While exposure concepts appear in other anxiety treatments, ERP is the gold standard for reducing OCD symptoms by preventing compulsive responses.