Danger Ideation Reduction Therapy for the Treatment of Severe, Chronic and Resistant Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Abstract

We describe the first application of Danger Ideation Reduction Therapy (DIRT) in the UK. It is a novel approach developed in Australia, for treatment resistant obsessive compulsive disorder with contamination fears. The DIRT program was administered to an inpatient at Springfield Hospital, South London, with severe, treatment resistant obsessive compulsive disorder. Treatment consisted of weekly one hour therapy sessions for 14 weeks. A reduction in symptom severity measured on all scales undertaken was seen by the end of treatment. The Padua Inventory had shown an 85% reduction; Activity checklist an 86% reduction; Y-BOCS an overall 41% reduction and a 33% reduction on the Beck Depression Inventory. The DIRT approach has demonstrated an impressive and consistent improvement, maintained to 6 months post-treatment. More studies are needed to evaluate this treatment further.