ABSTRACT
This chapter summarizes evidence-based assessment and treatment protocols for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and outlines the knowledge base and clinical competencies required by clinicians working with OCD. Many OCD patients require collaborative therapist-assisted behavioral interventions in their home or other environments outside the office combined with the practice of cognitive therapy strategies, as well as inclusion of significant others commensurate with progress in therapy. Thus, the therapist requires sufficient supervised experience with heterogeneous clinical skills that match the heterogeneity and treatment requirements of this disorder. The Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) model is based on respect for the "informed consumer" in a collaborative framework. Informed consent is an essential process that protects the ethical rights of those who undergo health care and forms the basis for a therapeutic relationship. Behavioral Avoidance Test (BAT) methodology facilitates assessment and modification of information processing, emotional response, rituals, and avoidance that occur in feared situations.
