Talk to the Veterans Crisis Line now
U.S. flag
An official website of the United States government
Veterans Benefits and Health Care About VA Find a VA Location

VA Health Systems Research

Go to the VA ORD website
Go to the QUERI website

HSR Citation Abstract

Search | Search by Center | Search by Source | Keywords in Title

Approach and barriers to the assessment and treatment of individuals with co-occurring OCD and PTSD: Treatment providers' perspectives

Pinciotti CM, Ponzini GT, Hundt NE, Fletcher TL, Wells SY, Wadsworth LP, Van Kirk N, Abramowitz JS, Quinlan K, Goodman WK, Storch EA. Approach and barriers to the assessment and treatment of individuals with co-occurring OCD and PTSD: Treatment providers' perspectives. Journal of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. 2024 Apr 1; 41:100877.

Dimensions for VA is a web-based tool available to VA staff that enables detailed searches of published research and research projects.

If you have VA-Intranet access, click here for more information vaww.hsrd.research.va.gov/dimensions/

VA staff not currently on the VA network can access Dimensions by registering for an account using their VA email address.    Search Dimensions for VA for this citation
* Don't have VA-internal network access or a VA email address? Try searching the free-to-the-public version of Dimensions


Abstract:

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) frequently co-occur, and phenotypic and functional similarities between the disorders necessitate assessment and treatment considerations by providers. To date, no research has reported on mental health treatment providers' approach to, and barriers associated with, assessing and treating patients with this complex comorbidity. The present study included 169 mental health providers, the majority of whom were cognitive behaviorally-oriented specialists who had recently treated co-occurring OCD and PTSD. Having a doctorate degree and overall years of experience predicted greater perceived competence to assess and conceptualize co-occurring OCD and PTSD. Recent clinical experience with co-occurring OCD and PTSD predicted perceived competence to conceptualize and treat individuals with both disorders. PTSD specialists perceived themselves as more competent to treat co-occurring OCD and PTSD than non-PTSD specialists. Most providers indicated some barriers to adequate assessment and treatment of individuals with co-occurring OCD and PTSD, including competing priorities and lack of time. Implications of findings are discussed within the context of future training targets to equip providers with the tools needed to conduct comprehensive and accurate diagnostic and functional assessment, as well as provide evidence-based treatment tailored to the unique needs of individuals with co-occurring OCD and PTSD.




Questions about the HSR website? Email the Web Team

Any health information on this website is strictly for informational purposes and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose or treat any condition.