Enhancing cognitive-behavioral therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder with transcranic magnetic stimulation: a proof of concept

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a well established first line treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). It consists of a cognitive and a behavioral treatment (exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP)) [1]. The goal of the cognitive treatment is the cognitive restructuring of meta-cognitions while the goal of exposure therapy is enhancing and facilitating patients ’ fear extinction processes in front of the feared object, situation or thought/obsession. Several studies have tried to enhance fear extinction through pharmacological agents with mixed results [2].
Source: European Neuropsychopharmacology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Source Type: research