Anxiety Disorder & OCD Treatment

What is the first-line treatment for Separation Anxiety Disorder? |

CBT with psychoeducation, exposure, relaxation, and cognitive restructuring. If school refusal, getting child back to school quickly is a priority.

What therapy should be used if Separation Anxiety Disorder involves school refusal? |

Getting child back to school quickly to prevent social and academic problems.

What is the first-line treatment for Specific Phobia? |

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), alone or as part of CBT.

What are the two types of ERP used in treating Specific Phobia? |

Flooding (immediate exposure to worst fear) and Graded (gradual) exposure.

What additional technique is used for blood-injection-injury phobia? |

Applied tension to prevent fainting.

What is the first-line treatment for Social Anxiety Disorder?

CBT or SSRIs/SNRIs.

What therapy is effective for adults with Social Anxiety Disorder if face-to-face therapy is not possible?

Guided internet-delivered CBT is as effective as in-person CBT.

What is the first-line treatment for Panic Disorder? |

CBT, including Panic Control Treatment with interoceptive exposure.

What is interoceptive exposure in Panic Disorder treatment? |

Deliberately triggering physical sensations of panic (e.g., spinning, breathing through straw).

Why are meds alone not preferred for Panic Disorder? |

Higher relapse rates when used without CBT.

What is the first-line treatment for Agoraphobia? |

In vivo exposure and response prevention, usually with graded exposure.

What is the key ingredient in effective treatment of Agoraphobia?

Learning to tolerate high levels of fear and anxiety through exposure.

What is the first-line treatment for GAD?

CBT and/or SSRIs/SNRIs.

What medications might be used for GAD if partial response to antidepressants occurs?

Buspirone as add-on therapy.

When are benzodiazepines used in GAD?

For short-term relief when antidepressants are not tolerated or effective, but not long-term due to dependence risk.

What is the first-line treatment for OCD?

SSRIs

What meds are first-line for OCD?

SSRIs.

When is combined ERP + SSRI treatment preferred for OCD?

If symptoms are severe or if either ERP alone or SSRI alone has been ineffective.

What can help increase engagement in ERP for OCD?

Motivational interviewing as a pretreatment.

Is ERP for OCD equally effective via telehealth and in-person?

Yes, for children and adolescents.

What is Body Dysmorphic Disorder?

Preoccupation with perceived physical flaws not noticeable to others, leading to distress and repetitive behaviors like mirror checking.

What is the first-line treatment for Body Dysmorphic Disorder?

CBT, often with exposure and cognitive restructuring.

Mnemonic for first-line treatments of anxiety/OCD disorders?

“Can Some Social People Always Get Organized Bodies?” - Can = CBT (Separation Anxiety), Some = Specific Phobia (ERP/CBT), Social = Social Anxiety (CBT/SSRIs/SNRIs), People = Panic Disorder (CBT ± meds), Always = Agoraphobia (Exposure), Get = GAD (CBT ± meds), Organized = OCD (ERP ± SSRIs), Bodies = BDD (CBT)