A Comparison of the Effect of Exposure and Response Prevention Therapyand Narrative Therapy on Reduction Symptoms of Obsessive – Compulsive Disorder

ObsessiveCompulsive Disorder is the existence of repeated and very intense Obsessions or Compulsions that disrupts occupational, social and interpersonal activity. The purpose of this study was comparison of effectiveness of Exposure and Response Prevention by Self-Treatment Method and Narrative Therapy on reduction symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

This study design was semi-experimental with pre-test, post-test and follow-up. Therefore, among all patients with Obsessive-Compulsive disorder in psychiatric and psychological centers of Esfahan in 2021, 30 patients were selected by purposeful sampling and randomly assigned in 2 experimental groups and 1 control group. An experimental group received Exposure and Response Prevention by Self-Treatment Method (6 weeks), and other experimental group received Narrative Therapy, in base on the White (1995) and Monk (1997). The results analyzed by MANCOVA in SPSS-26.

The results showed the effect of Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy by Self-Treatment and Narrative Therapy on significant reduction symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and so 4 sub-scales, especially doubting and slowness on the post-test and on the one-month follow-up (P<0.01).

It seems that Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy and Narrative therapy can be used alongside other treatments in OCD treatment.