Obsessive compulsive and related disorders

Abstract

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and related disorders share many functional components and are often comorbid with one another. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for OCD and related disorders is described and is situated as a version of cognitive-behavioral therapy. Also described are the key psychological inflexibility measures for each of these disorders and the outcomes work with OCD and related disorders. Research supports ACT and ACT plus exposure therapy for OCD, and ACT plus habit reversal as a treatment for trichotillomania. The work in skin picking, hoarding disorder, and BDD is limited but is growing. Finally, guidance on the integration of ACT with exposure exercises and habit reversal, as well as future directions for work in this area, are presented.