How do you approach and manage patients who may be experiencing symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder?

Sample interview questions: How do you approach and manage patients who may be experiencing symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder?

Sample answer:

Approaching and Managing Patients with Symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Assessment and Diagnosis:

  • Conduct a comprehensive psychiatric assessment to rule out other potential diagnoses and determine the specific OCD symptoms and severity.
  • Utilize the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) to quantify OCD symptoms.

Psychoeducation:

  • Provide the patient with information about OCD, its symptoms, and available treatment options.
  • Explain the role of serotonin-reuptake inhibitor (SRI) medications and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in OCD management.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT):

  • CBT focuses on identifying and challenging OCD thoughts and rituals.
  • Implement exposure and response prevention (ERP) techniques, exposing the patient to anxiety-provoking situations while preventing compulsive behaviors.
  • Encourage the patient to engage in cognitive restructuring to modify distorted thoughts.

Pharmacotherapy:

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