Treating OCD using Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)

Sara Conley, PhD, Clinical Lead at Rogers San Diego, explains how Rogers uses Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) to help people rise above the challenges of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). ERP is a component of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and considered the “treatment of choice” for OCD. Also useful for treating other mental health conditions, such as phobias, panic disorders, generalized anxiety disorders and social anxieties, ERP is a key component of care for eating disorders at Rogers. This method gradually exposes a patient to feared thoughts, images or impulses and outcome studies show its effectiveness in reducing anxiety and distress over time.