Contribuições das terapia cognitivo-comportamental e terapia de exposição e prevenção de respostas no tratamento do TOC

Abstract

Introduction: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric condition characterized by unwanted obsessive thoughts and repetitive compulsive behaviors. In terms of treatment, psychotherapeutic interventions are common, with Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (ERP), which proposes gradual exposure to anxiety-provoking stimuli related to obsessions, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which aims to identify and modify dysfunctional thinking patterns and compulsive behaviors, standing out. Objectives: This undergraduate thesis aimed to compare the effectiveness of CBT and ERP in relation to OCD, to characterize the treatment approaches of both therapies regarding OCD, and to describe which of them present more robust scientific evidence. To this end, articles published in the last ten years in databases such as PubMed, SciELO, and Google Scholar were selected, followed by screening and qualitative analysis of the results. Methodology: Articles published in the last ten years were selected from the PubMed, SciELO, and Google Scholar databases, using criteria of relevance and timeliness, followed by screening and qualitative content analysis. Results: The findings indicated that both interventions lead to significant reductions in obsessive-compulsive symptom scores, with ERP showing greater immediate effectiveness in reducing behavioral compulsions and CBT showing advantages in maintaining long-term therapeutic gains. Conclusion: It is concluded that although both CBT and ERP have proven efficacy, the choice of protocol should consider the patient's symptom profile, tolerance to anxious exposure, and the need for deeper cognitive interventions.