OBJECTIVE: The study examined the effectiveness of a partial hospital
treatment program combining behavioral therapy, medication, and
psychosocial intervention for severe and treatment-resistant obsessive-
compulsive disorder. METHODS: A total of 58 patients with a primary
diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder who underwent treatment in a
partial hospital program were assessed at baseline, at program discharge,
and at six-, 12-, and 18-month follow-ups. Obsessive- compulsive symptoms,
depression, anxiety symptoms, and global functioning were rated. RESULTS:
The majority of patients (71 percent) met the criterion for a successful
outcome, which was a 25 percent decrease in score on the Yale-Brown
Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS). Fifty-five percent finished the program
with YBOCS scores of 16 or less, indicating only mild symptoms. Most of
these patients sustained their improvement at six, 12, and 18 months after
discharge, and many showed further improvement with continued outpatient
management. CONCLUSIONS: The partial hospital treatment program for
obsessive- compulsive disorder appears to be an effective intervention that
should be implemented and investigated further.
Abstract Teaser