How effective is exposure and response prevention treatment for OCD? Does progress last?
While presently there is no “cure” for OCD, exposure and response prevention (ERP) is considered the “gold standard” treatment for OCD. Over 30 controlled clinical research studies conducted over the past 25 years at major universities throughout the world attest to its effectiveness. Though several factors contribute to success, most patients with OCD can expect between a 60-90% improvement in symptoms post-treatment. Research has also confirmed that these results are enduring, though patients may require occasional “booster” sessions during stressful and transition periods in the life span. One of the most important factors in patient improvement is the skill, training and experience of the cognitive-behavioral therapist. To achieve the best outcome, therapists treating OCD effectively must have specialized training and extensive experience treating OCD and its spectrum disorders. We at the OCD Resource Center of Florida pride ourselves on the excellent results achieved with our pati