Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) has been around for many years. Debilitating is the participation of sufferers in activities they may enjoy due to the sufferers' obsessions and compulsions which make them feel somewhat marginalized by their fellow members of society. In this essay, the symptoms of OCD will be outlined; it is also the most empirically studied ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) treatment method, along with the process involved in treating a patient with this type of therapy. The mistakes made by professionals in implementing this treatment will be addressed. Additionally, pharmacotherapy will be briefly explored as a means to improve efficacy. It will be concluded that Exposure Response Prevention treatment in adults has been shown to be the most effective treatment method according to empirical research despite some of the minor pitfalls. For a person to be diagnosed with OCD, they must have both an obsession and an obsession. constraint. An obsession is best defined as recurrent, persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that are experienced during the disorder as intrusive and unwanted. While compulsions are defined by: repetitive behaviors such as hand washing, ordering, checking that the person feels strongly compelled to perform in response to their obsession The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The most empirically valid treatment method is called exposure response prevention (Himle & Franklin, 2009). This will be the psychological method of treatment discussed. Victor Meyer was the first person credited with performing a study regarding the effects of ERP on OCD. He convinced hospitalized patients to ... middle of paper ...... a form of pharmacotherapy should definitely be considered. In summary, according to empirical evidence, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) treatment is the most effective form of psychological treatment. If the professional correctly takes the correct steps in implementing this treatment to the patient; severity will be read lower on the gold standard of OCD treatments, the Y-Bocs scale, which, according to empirical evidence, is the most accurate form of measuring the severity of the disorder in hopes of neutralizing the symptoms of this socially debilitating disorder. condition. It is therefore recommended, for optimal treatment effectiveness, that every sufferer takes part in ERP treatment or considers pharmacotherapy with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors to assist in neutralizing this socially debilitating disorder...