Research throughout the COVID pandemic suggested OCD symptoms were stable or improved for about two-thirds of individuals. However, one-third experienced worsening symptoms. If you’re looking for OCD Treatment-Huntsville resources, understanding these symptom patterns is important. Furthermore, Behavioral Sciences’ OCD Treatment-Huntsville providers take these research findings into account when designing support plans.
Research on Telehealth CBT
A recent publication in the Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders reported on the efficacy of intensive CBT telehealth for OCD during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two matched samples with 239 pre-COVID in-person (IP) and 239 COVID telehealth (TH) were compared for effectiveness in treating OCD and depressive symptoms. Both were found effective. However, the TH group required an additional 2.6 treatment days. These findings reinforce our experience in treatment using telehealth, especially for individuals with complicated OCD who do not have access to IP treatment. In fact, our OCD Treatment-Huntsville practice has integrated telehealth into many of their therapy protocols as a result.
During the COVID pandemic, we had to scramble to help clients and patients progress in treatment for obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. Telehealth quickly became the best vehicle for intensive outpatient treatment delivery (IOP). Like other intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization programs, we were concerned with privacy and efficacy.
Our Findings
Pre-pandemic, we provided telehealth services for years. We had accessed guidelines and continuing education training. We knew telehealth to be effective for many clients and patients following ethical guidelines. Pre-pandemic, we followed up with our IOP clients on homework or supervised exposure therapy in-home with adult clients. We also worked with children and adolescents and their parents.
This telehealth experience provided our therapists with valuable skills using telehealth as an adjunct to in-person IOP. OCD Treatment-Huntsville professionals now have substantial expertise in both modalities to meet patient needs. We relied on telehealth when we could not get to their homes for in-vivo (real-time, real-life) exposure.
As a result, we learned that clients and patients could continue treatment. They continued to progress and find relief from intense, adverse emotional reactions to their set of triggers. That is why Our OCD Treatment-Huntsville solutions are increasingly designed with flexible options in mind.
David L. Barnhart, EdD
Licensed Counselor – Supervisor
David Barnhart, EdDpwsadminEdit Profile
Board Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor
