APA
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Pinciotti, C., Ponzini, G. T., Colombo, G. M., McLean, C. P., Fletcher, T. L., Hundt, N., … Storch, E. A. (2024). Misconceptions among mental health treatment providers about OCD and PTSD. The Behavior Therapist.
Chicago/Turabian
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Pinciotti, C., Gabriella T Ponzini, Gianna M Colombo, Carmen P. McLean, Terri L. Fletcher, N. Hundt, Lauren P. Wadsworth, et al. “Misconceptions among Mental Health Treatment Providers about OCD and PTSD.” The Behavior Therapist (2024).
MLA
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Pinciotti, C., et al. “Misconceptions among Mental Health Treatment Providers about OCD and PTSD.” The Behavior Therapist, 2024.
BibTeX Click to copy
@article{c2024a,
title = {Misconceptions among mental health treatment providers about OCD and PTSD},
year = {2024},
journal = {The Behavior Therapist},
author = {Pinciotti, C. and Ponzini, Gabriella T and Colombo, Gianna M and McLean, Carmen P. and Fletcher, Terri L. and Hundt, N. and Wadsworth, Lauren P. and Kirk, Nathaniel Van and Wells, Stephanie Y. and Abramowitz, Jonathan S. and Goodman, Wayne K. and Storch, Eric A.}
}
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) share overlapping features for which similar cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) strategies can be employed. However, the comorbid presence of these conditions poses unique clinical considerations, and a nuanced approach to assessment, conceptualization, and treatment is needed when working with individuals with co-occurring OCD and PTSD. Treatment providers may not be aware of these nuances and may hold misconceptions about co-occurring OCD and PTSD. The current study sought to examine possible misconceptions among mental health treatment providers of differing specializations. Among 146 primarily CBT-oriented treatment providers (20.3% generalist, 13.0% PTSD specialist, 32.6% OCD specialist, and 34.1% OCD/PTSD specialist), exploratory factor analysis categorized misconceptions relating to Trepidation, Differential Diagnosis, Flexibility, OCD is Trauma, Trauma Misconceptions, and Compartmentalization. Overall, OCD specialists endorsed misconceptions most frequently, including those of Trepidation and the prevalence of trauma and PTSD in individuals with OCD. In contrast, PTSD specialists were more likely to endorse providing patients reassurance for their OCD-related fears, and OCD/PTSD providers were more likely to apply rigid Differential Diagnosis criteria to intrusive thoughts and safety behaviors not supported by research or diagnostic criteria. Misconceptions are explained through the lens of differing conceptualization and treatment approaches between areas of specialization.