Internal Family Systems (IFS) for OCD

"The first-line, evidence-based treatment for OCD is called exposure and response prevention (ERP). When skillfully delivered, it provides roughly 50 percent symptom relief in at least 75 percent of the clients who complete a course of treatment. Unfortunately, far too many individuals with OCD are unable to access trained OCD specialists, or they are unable to fully participate or follow through. Medications are most effective when combined with ERP."

"In her new book, OCD expert Melissa Mose (a co-author of this post) looks at the OC cycle through the lens of Internal Family Systems (IFS), a therapy model that views the mind as a community of parts. According to IFS, vulnerable parts in the neurotypical brain develop negative identity beliefs like I am worthless, disposable, unlovable in response to interpersonal or existential"

Obsessive-compulsive disorder involves intrusive thoughts, images, feelings, and urges (obsessions) followed by repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) intended to relieve distress. Brain circuits connecting the orbitofrontal cortex, anterior cingulate, and striatum become biased toward threat detection and uncertainty while struggling to register safety and completion. Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is the evidence-based first-line treatment and can provide substantial symptom relief when completed; medications are most effective when combined with ERP. Many people with OCD cannot access ERP-trained specialists or cannot fully participate in treatment. Internal Family Systems (IFS) frames the mind as a community of parts, with vulnerable parts developing negative identity beliefs.

Read at Psychology Today