Enrique is being treated for his OCD which is focused on contamination. In this session, the therapist meets Enrique at his apartment. First, they work together on cleaning the kitchen, but Enrique is asked to do so with his bare hands, no gloves. He is also asked to scrape the food off of last night's dinner plates into the trash with his hands. After the kitchen, the therapist asks Enrique to clean the bathrooms, again with no gloves, and then to come out and fold clothes. During this whole time, they are challenging Enrique's beliefs and Enrique is not allowed to wash his hands (although he rinsed the food off of his hands after scraping the plates). The therapist is using what form of behavior treatment?

Exposure and response prevention (ERP)

Explanation:

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Are obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors interfering with the daily life of it's victim

Obsessions are involuntary thoughts, images, or impulses that occur over and over again in your mind. You don’t want to have these ideas, but you can’t stop them. Unfortunately, these obsessive thoughts are often disturbing and distracting.

Compulsions are behaviors or rituals that you feel driven to act out again and again. Usually, compulsions are performed in an attempt to make obsessions go away. For example, if you’re afraid of contamination, you might develop elaborate cleaning rituals. However, the relief never lasts. In fact, the obsessive thoughts usually come back stronger. And the compulsive rituals and behaviors often end up causing anxiety themselves as they become more demanding and time-consuming. This is the vicious cycle of OCD.

Exposure and response prevention (ERP): Is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT),  CBT therapy is a type of psychotherapy, is effective for many people with OCD.

ERP (Exposure and response prevention) involves gradually exposing you to a feared object or obsession, such as dirt, and having you learn healthy ways to cope with your anxiety. ERP takes effort and practice, people with OCD enjoy a better quality of life once they learn how to manage thier obsessions and compulsions.

The therapist is using Exposure therapy as a form of behavior treatment.

Explanation:

A person with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) has recurring thoughts and obsessions and feel an urge to carry out certain actions over and over again.

Such a person feels distressed and gets anxious if he is unable to carry out those actions.

Exposure therapy in treating obsessive compulsive disorder, involves a therapist gradually exposing a patient to his or her obsessions or fears and blocking them from carrying out those repetitive actions they are used to.