Join us as we kick off the free virtual OCD & Anxiety Lecture series!
SESSION I: Clinical Considerations in the Treatment of OCD-PTSD Comorbidity
The co-occurrence of OCD and PTSD can present a unique clinical challenge for conceptualization and treatment planning. While empirically based treatments (EBTs) exist for both disorders, preliminary evidence suggests certain presentations/developmental trajectories of this comorbidity may be associated with greater symptom severity, depression, higher suicidality (e.g. Fontenelle et al., 2012), and may account for a large percentage of treatment refractory cases (Gershuny et al., 2008). With a comorbidity rate around 19.1% (Ruscio et al., 2008) between OCD and PTSD, and elevated rates of trauma histories in those diagnosed with OCD, identifying factors that may impact treatment process and outcome is crucial. This presentation will provide an overview of the existing literature on the comorbidity, with a focus on helping clinicians with differential diagnosis, clinical conceptualization, and treatment planning processes. Treatment strategies for cases in which the PTSD and OCD symptoms appear to be functionally connected, or “dynamic”, will be discussed.
Learning Objectives:
After this lecture, registrants will be able to:
- Define distinguishing features between OCD and PTSD symptom, aiding in differential diagnosis..
- Differentiate between static and dynamic comorbidity presentations.
- Identify at least one treatment strategy for addressing comorbid presentations.
SESSION II: Understanding the Role of “Self” in OCD Treatment
Assessing, conceptualizing, and addressing barriers to change is a critical responsibility of the behavioral therapist, irrespective of the population being treated or the modality being utilized. In delivering exposure and response prevention (ERP) for OCD, an oft missed barrier to change is the extent that a patient sees their OCD as connected to a fundamental aspect of their identity, i.e., “self.” This makes engaging in treatment particularly challenging, as these patients can feel that completing exposures and resisting rituals constitutes a fundamental threat to their sense of identity, in addition to any other feared consequences related to the content of the obsessions. This presentation will discuss concepts of self, present several case examples illustrating specific ways that OCD can become entangled with the self, and offer treatment augmentations that clinicians can utilize to address this barrier and increase these patients’ capacity to access ERP.
Learning Objectives:
After this lecture, registrants will be able to:
- Define self-concept in terms of both content and structure
- Identify specific self-concepts that creates vulnerability to OCD
- Identify cognitive and behavioral approaches that are useful in addressing self
Approval Statements:
Physician Statement: Sheppard Pratt is accredited by The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Sheppard Pratt takes responsibility for the content, quality, and scientific integrity of this CME activity. Sheppard Pratt designates this live activity for a maximum of 3.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Nurse Statement: Sheppard Pratt is approved as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the Maryland Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Sheppard Pratt takes responsibility for the content, quality, and scientific integrity of this CME activity. This activity provides 3.0 contact hours for nurses.
Psychologist Statement: Sheppard Pratt is authorized by the State Board of Examiners of Psychologists as a sponsor of continuing education. Sheppard Pratt takes responsibility for the content, quality, and scientific integrity of this continuing education activity. Sheppard Pratt designates this educational activity for a maximum of 3.0 contact hours for Psychologists.
Social Worker Statement: Sheppard Pratt is authorized by the Board of Social Work Examiners of Maryland to offer continuing education for Social Workers. Sheppard Pratt takes responsibility for the content, quality, and scientific integrity of this continuing education activity. This activity is approved for 3.0 contact hours in Category I credits for Social Workers.
Counselor Statement: Sheppard Pratt has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5098. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Sheppard Pratt is solely responsible for all aspects of the program. This activity is available for 3.0 NBCC clock hours.