In treating Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, which therapy component is commonly used?

• A. Cognitive restructuring only.
• B. Supportive counseling.
• C. Exposure and Response Prevention.
• D. Hypnotherapy.

Answer: (C)

Exposure and Response Prevention is the therapy component most commonly used for OCD because it directly targets the cycle that drives the disorder. In ERP, you gradually expose yourself to things that trigger obsessions or distressing thoughts and, crucially, you refrain from performing the compulsive rituals that usually follow. Over repeated attempts, the anxiety that once followed the obsession begins to fade (habituation), and you learn that the feared outcome is unlikely or tolerable even without the ritual. This process weakens the link between obsession and compulsion, reducing the urge to wash, check, count, or repeat rituals over time.

ERP sits at the heart of cognitive-behavioral therapy for OCD and is often used alongside medications like SSRIs when needed. Other approaches—cognitive restructuring alone, which focuses only on changing thoughts without breaking the ritual cycle; supportive counseling, which provides general support without a structured exposure plan; or hypnotherapy, which lacks consistent evidence for OCD—do not directly disrupt the compulsive behavior pattern in the way ERP does.