Symptom Presentation and Outcome of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Article

Abramowitz, JS, Schwartz, SA, Franklin, ME et al. (2003). Symptom Presentation and Outcome of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder . JOURNAL OF CONSULTING AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, 71(6), 1049-1057. 10.1037/0022-006X.71.6.1049

cited authors

  • Abramowitz, JS; Schwartz, SA; Franklin, ME; Furr, JM

authors

abstract

  • Previous researchers have classified obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients by the themes of their obsessions and compulsions (e.g., washing, checking); however, mental compulsions have not been adequately assessed in these studies. The authors conducted 2 studies using a large sample of OCD patients (N = 132). In the 1st study, they categorized patients on the basis of symptom presentation, giving adequate consideration to mental compulsions. Five patient clusters were identified: harming, contamination, hoarding, unacceptable thoughts, and symmetry. Mental compulsions were most prevalent among patients with intrusive, upsetting religious, violent, or sexual thoughts. In the 2nd study, they compared response to cognitive-behavioral therapy across symptom categories, finding poorer outcomes among patients with hoarding symptoms compared with those with other symptom themes.

publication date

  • December 1, 2003

published in

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

start page

  • 1049

end page

  • 1057

volume

  • 71

issue

  • 6