"Functional," Sub-Clinical Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms and Their Challenges: The Case of "Angela"

Authors

  • Livia M.M. Pontes
  • Rodrigo F. Pereira

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14713/pcsp.v9i1.1806

Keywords:

obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), cognitive-behavior therapy, contingencies, therapeutic relationship, exposure and response prevention, cognitive re-structuring, case study, clinical case study

Abstract

Complex behavior patterns may underlie symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which, in turn, seem to contribute to the maintenance of symptoms, hinder its management, and interfere with the client’s compliance with treatment. Although the evidence-based choice for treating OCD is cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT), such treatment might prove ineffective if it is not accompanied by a careful and thorough investigation of the contingencies involved in the onset and maintenance of symptoms; and this  might take longer than predicted by treatment manuals. We present a case study of the treatment of "Angela," a client with OCD who suffered from sub-clinical symptoms for 20 years and did not obtain relief with antidepressant medication. Angela underwent cognitive-behavioral therapy for three and a half years and was treated by the first author in weekly sessions. The difficult management of symptoms, the contingencies involved in them, and the development of the therapeutic relationship are discussed. Treatment results indicated a significant decrease in symptoms, anxiety, and discomfort. We believe this case illustrates limitations associated with a strict, manual-driven treatment with a pre-determined number of sessions.     

Author Biography

Livia M.M. Pontes

Lan Fishman, Ph.D. Editor-in-Chief, Pragmatic Case Studies in Psychotherapy Professor of Clinical and Organizational Psychology Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology Rutgers University Mailing address: 57 Jaffray Court Irvington, NY 10533 914-693-8549 fax: 603-917-2567 email: dfish96198@aol.com

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Published

02/17/2013

How to Cite

Pontes, L. M., & Pereira, R. F. (2013). "Functional," Sub-Clinical Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms and Their Challenges: The Case of "Angela". Pragmatic Case Studies in Psychotherapy, 9(1), 81–97. https://doi.org/10.14713/pcsp.v9i1.1806

Issue

Section

Cognitive-Behavior Therapy with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Complex Contexts

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