Behavioral Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in African Americans: Clinical Issues

K.E. Williams, D. Chambless, and G. Steketee

Abstract

African Americans with obsessive-compulsive disorder are underrepresented in behavioral treatment outcome studies. This paper consists of a clinical discussion of issues arising during the treatment with exposure plus response prevention of two African-American women with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Clinical issues, such as excessive shame, insanity fears, and a sense of uniqueness, complicated the treatment process. However, both clients made significant improvement as assessed by behavioral testing, target ratings and the Yale–Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale.

 

Reference: Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry (1998)