Delivering exposure and ritual prevention for obsessive-compulsive disorder via videoconference: Clinical considerations and recommendations

Exposure and ritual prevention (ERP) has been shown to be effective for treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), but many people with OCD are not able to access this specialized, evidence-based mental health treatment. Internet-mediated technologies, e.g., videoconferencing, represent a way to increase the availability of evidence-based treatments such as ERP, but given that OCD is a complex disorder requiring a nuanced treatment approach, clinicians attempting to implement ERP remotely should appreciate not only the advantages but also the challenges associated with treating OCD from a distance. Using a case example, we describe this treatment method and discuss relevant clinical considerations. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.