Exposure and Ritual Prevention Intervention: A Case Study Using Behavioral Measures With a Patient Diagnosed With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Including Compulsive Checking

Abstract

Study Objective: The purpose of the present study was to use behavioral measures to evaluate effects of exposure and ritual prevention (ERP) in a treatment of a patient who presented compulsive checking behavior and was diagnosed as having an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Design: AB design. Settings: A consulting room at a psychiatric clinic, a convenience store, and a train station near the clinic. Participant: A woman in her late twenties with a diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Intervention: Exposure to cause anxiety about lost items by taking a piece of paper from a bag and throwing it in a trash can, and ritual prevention for compulsive checking. Measure: Number of discarded pieces of paper. Results: An increase in the number of discarded pieces of paper was observed over time. Additionally, some positive changes were observed in her daily life. Conclusion: Exposure and ritual prevention using behavioral measures appeared to be effective for the treatment of this patient with obsessive-compulsive disorder diagnosis that included compulsive checking.