Question:
In adults with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and panic, how effective is systematic desensitisation or graded exposure, compared to any other intervention, for reducing OCD and panic?
Answer:
The results of one methodologically weak systematic review and a
second, high quality systematic review, (which included a subset of
studies from the first review) consistently indicated that
therapist-guided Exposure Response Prevention (ERP) behavioural
therapy is likely to be effective in reducing obsessive-compulsive
symptoms in adults with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). The
available evidence suggested that self-applied ERP may not be
effective. Similarly, the available evidence suggested that ERP is
not effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety.
Larger, high quality randomised controlled trials are needed to
fully explore the effects of ERP in people with OCD. In particular,
studies should address effectiveness in people with different
levels of disease severity.
To view the full summary, click the Download Document
link to the right.
To view the Cochrane review which is included in this summary,
click the Related Document link, below.