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DBT for OCD/anxiety?


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Has anyone had DBT for OCD or anxiety and if so how did you find it?  I've just started seeing a CPN who specialises in this whilst on a waiting list for CBT with a psychologist.  I know it's usually used for people with personality disorders but she said that a lot of the techniques can be used for other conditions.  I've looked into it and read that it has been used quite successfully for OCD and anxiety disorders so I'm keen to hear from anyone who's been through this treatment before and how they found it.

Thanks :)

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13 minutes ago, leil said:

Has anyone had DBT for OCD or anxiety and if so how did you find it?  I've just started seeing a CPN who specialises in this whilst on a waiting list for CBT with a psychologist.  I know it's usually used for people with personality disorders but she said that a lot of the techniques can be used for other conditions.  I've looked into it and read that it has been used quite successfully for OCD and anxiety disorders so I'm keen to hear from anyone who's been through this treatment before and how they found it.

Thanks :)

Hi leil. I have received Dialectical Behavioural Therapy for Borderline Personality Disorder in the past. I too would be intrigued to discover its potential for treating OCD.

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2 hours ago, leil said:

I've looked into it and read that it has been used quite successfully for OCD

I think if it is whilst waiting for CBT (instead of CBT) then that's fine to maybe give it a go, but I have not read any evidence of it being effective for OCD, so be cautious of websites that claim it is, and delve a little to see who is saying it and why. 

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Thanks for your replies.  That's what she said, that hopefully she can tailor it towards my personal problems and if it helps then great but then if not at least I'm on the list for CBT.

What kind of techniques are used in DBT? Ive had some info about it but not much. I've read that it was derived from CBT style techniques so I'd be interested to find out how it differs!

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Hi Leil,

DBT is about learning to go against an urge or impulse. If you have the sort of personality where you feel inclined to react to instructions or authority by doing the opposite of what you're told then DBT could be an effective approach for your OCD. If you have a compliant personality (where you like being told what to do and hate taking responsibility for decision making) then it is probably not an ideal approach for your OCD simply because the therapy won't be 'on your wavelength'.

But ultimately what you need is CBT. 

CBT helps you understand your OCD thinking and allows you to change it, where DBT helps you understand your personal responses and allows you to control them. That's a gross over-simplification, but it might give you some idea of how the approaches overlap and how they differ. 

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Oh erk that is definitely not me.  I'm definitely one to 'do things by the book' although not quite to the extreme of not wanting to make my own decisions.

Well it's still very early days with the CPN but so far the empathis has been on mindfulness practice, distress management and challenging my beliefs about things i.e. evidence based fact vs thought based opinions.  So I guess I'll see where it goes, she does seem to understand where I'm coming from and how my mind works which was somewhat reassuring.  At least the CBT is in place for if this doesn't quite work :)

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10 minutes ago, leil said:

Oh erk that is definitely not me.  I'm definitely one to 'do things by the book' although not quite to the extreme of not wanting to make my own decisions.

Well it's still very early days with the CPN but so far the empathis has been on mindfulness practice, distress management and challenging my beliefs about things i.e. evidence based fact vs thought based opinions.  So I guess I'll see where it goes, she does seem to understand where I'm coming from and how my mind works which was somewhat reassuring.  At least the CBT is in place for if this doesn't quite work :)

Therapy choice isn't about 'suiting the personality' so don't take my explanation too literally. I was just trying to show how therapy can be adapted to fit with where an individual is coming from. 

A good therapist adapts the therapy to fit the person. And mindfulness, distress management and challenging beliefs is all good. :yes:  

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15 hours ago, Ashley said:

I think if it is whilst waiting for CBT (instead of CBT) then that's fine to maybe give it a go, but I have not read any evidence of it being effective for OCD, so be cautious of websites that claim it is, and delve a little to see who is saying it and why. 

Interestingly this has been recommended for my son both by the Maudesley and an OCD expert we both know well Ashley.  From what I gather it helps you to control extremes of emotion and your reaction to situations (well thats a simplified version!) and that it would help him be more accepting towards CBT.

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11 hours ago, carolj said:

From what I gather it helps you to control extremes of emotion and your reaction to situations

That's a much better way of describing it than my attempt. :yes: I'll steal that explanation for next time, Carol. :) 

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