ABSTRACT
The efficacy of exposure and ritual prevention (EX/RP) for reducing symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has been demonstrated in several randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Clinical patients achieved substantial and clinically meaningful reductions in their OCD and depressive symptoms following EX/RP, which were comparable with those reported in the RCTs. The efficacy of two forms of treatment for OCD has already been established: serotonergic medications and cognitive-behavioral therapy involving EX/RP. Critics have argued that the very procedures used to maximize experimental control in RCTs seriously compromise their external validity. Treatment was conducted by clinical psychologists and clinical psychology interns who had received training in EX/RP treatment for OCD at the CTSA.
