Individuals with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) may have psychological comorbidity and behaviors that interfere with effective treatment. Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is the most efficacious treatment for OCD to date. Several studies exist examining the impact of comorbid major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder, and other anxiety disorders on response to ERP, whereas almost none examine the impact of eating disorders or nonsuicidal self-injury on the effectiveness of ERP. This makes it difficult to determine readiness, specifically in regard to ERP treatment, when clients present with OCD and comorbid conditions other than MDD and anxiety-related conditions. This article describes a decisionmaking model for clinicians regarding whether or not to begin ERP when a client has comorbid symptoms that are potentially life threatening and impact their functioning more severely than the OCD diagnosis. The decision-making model was developed based on previous models of readiness for ERP (VanDyke & Pollard, 2005) and incorporates research literature and the treatment team's clinical experience with other severe psychopathology. The model is described and two case examples are presented: one who was ready for ERP treatment and the other who was not and was therefore referred for another evidence-based intervention.
Public Significance StatementExposure and response prevention is an effective treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Many individuals with OCD have co-occurring conditions such as eating disorders, suicidality, and major depressive disorder. This study described a model to assist clinicians in making decisions about how to sequence treatment for OCD when an individual has other co-occurring conditions that also severely impact quality of life.