RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2018
Mental Health Nursing
Easy

OCD is best managed with which of the following psychotherapy?

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2018

Explanation

  • Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is the evidence-based, first-line psychotherapeutic treatment for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
  • A specific type of CBT, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), is considered the gold standard.
  • ERP works by systematically exposing the patient to their obsessive triggers while preventing them from engaging in their compulsive rituals.
  • This process breaks the cycle of negative reinforcement where compulsions temporarily relieve anxiety, leading to long-term habituation and symptom reduction.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

  • Option A: Psychodynamic therapy focuses on exploring unconscious conflicts and past experiences. There is no rigorous evidence that this approach is effective in treating the core symptoms of OCD.
  • Option B: Interpersonal therapy (IPT) centers on resolving interpersonal difficulties and relationship problems that contribute to psychological distress. OCD is not primarily caused by interpersonal issues.
  • Option D: Supportive psychotherapy provides emotional support, empathy, and encouragement. While helpful for coping, it does not include the specific, structured techniques required to target and eliminate the obsessions and compulsions of OCD.

Related Visual

Visual explanation — Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
  • Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain First-line psychotherapy for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
  • A nurse's role is crucial in reinforcing the principles of CBT/ERP taught by the therapist. This includes encouraging the patient to engage in exposure exercises and resist compulsions.
  • Nurses must monitor the patient's anxiety levels during treatment, provide support, and teach relaxation techniques to help them tolerate the distress of exposure without resorting to rituals.
  • Patient and family education is key. Nurses can help explain the rationale for ERP, emphasizing that short-term anxiety leads to long-term freedom from OCD.
How to Approach the Question
  • First, identify the core clinical condition in the question stem: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
  • Next, identify the type of intervention being asked about: 'best' or first-line 'psychotherapy'.
  • Recall the evidence-based treatments for OCD. The gold standard psychotherapy is Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), specifically Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).
  • Evaluate the given options against this knowledge.
  • Eliminate options that are used for other conditions (like Interpersonal therapy for depression) or are not evidence-based for OCD (like Psychodynamic therapy).
  • Select CBT as the most effective and well-supported option.
Concept Tested & Keywords
  • Concept Tested: First-line psychotherapy for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
  • Stem keywords: OCD, managed, psychotherapy
  • Lead-in keywords: best

Question ID

Qb86i-GU-9hdAn0y-UbXdB

Reference Book

E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 1 p. 274-276

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 5919-5921

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