ABA Therapy for OCD

Autism is a very diverse neurodevelopmental disorder. That’s a main reason why, more than 10 years ago now, the term autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was coined to describe a number of disorders that shared similar signs and symptoms.

Children who are diagnosed with ASD can span a very wide range of signs and symptoms, as well as how they are affected by their disorder. Most struggle with communication and social interaction skills, though the severity of these symptoms can vary greatly.

At the same time, there are many instances in which children who have ASD also have other psychological disorders that co-occur with their autism. One such disorder is known as obsessive-compulsive disorder.

More commonly known as OCD, this disorder can occur on its own, without the individual being diagnosed with autism. Yet, since it isn’t uncommon for them to occur in the same individual, it’s no surprise that OCD can be effectively treated with applied behavioral analysis, which is widely accepted as the gold standard treatment for children with autism.

Below, we’ll describe how ABA therapy works for OCD, and why.

Table Of Contents

What is OCD?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a psychological disorder that is characterized by obsessions, compulsions or both at the same time.

The obsessions are described as persistent and recurring thoughts that the person doesn’t want and end up being intrusive. The compulsions are described as repetitive and time-consuming behaviors that people feel they are compelled to do as a response to an obsessive thought that they have.

These obsessions and compulsions work in conjunction with each other, which is why the disorder is called OCD. The obsessive thoughts that the person has end up causing them significant distress, which then causes them to try to manage their distress by doing a certain action.

Some of the most common obsessions include unwanted thoughts, aggressive thoughts toward others or oneself, a need to be perfect and a fear of contamination or germs in general.

Some of the most common obsessions include excessive handwashing and/or cleaning, arranging and ordering items in a very precise way, and checking on things repeatedly, such as ensuring that the lights are off or the door is locked.

These aren’t habits or rituals, because people who have OCD often can’t control these thoughts or the responsive behaviors, don’t get any pleasure out of performing them, and also experience major problems in their lives because of them.

How Can ABA Therapy Treat People with OCD?

The basis of ABA therapy is what’s known as ABC — which stands for antecedent, behavior and consequence. The theory is that by altering either the antecedent or the consequence (or both), you can help to control the behavior.

In ABA therapy for OCD, therapists will manipulate the A or the C. They will then use behavioral activation, also known as BA, to set specific goals for individuals with OCD and how they can engage in healthier, more meaningful behaviors.

As part of this therapy, the ABA therapist will adjust the antecedent, eliminating some variables that result in the undesirable behaviors so they are replaced with an adaptive behavior. For instance, the therapist will work to get individuals with OCD to replace negative thoughts and feelings that lead them to compulsive activities to other activities that are much less compulsive.

Another strategy is to adjust the consequence, which are the variables that follow a specific variable. When an individual with OCD exhibits a desired behavior rather than a compulsive action, they feel pleasure and relief, rather than anxiety. This, then, becomes the more desired consequence.

Patients of ABA therapy receive positive reinforcement when they perform desired behaviors and/or reach their goals. This is a great way to consistently encourage them to perform these replacement behaviors rather than the other behaviors that have been disruptive to their lives.

Blue Gems ABA Treats Individuals with OCD

Obsessive-compulsive disorder can dramatically affect every aspect of an individual’s life. It can even become debilitating to some.

ABA therapy has been proven to be effective at reducing the instances of these disruptive behaviors, which then leads to less anxiety as a result.

At Blue Gems ABA, our team of experienced therapists administer ABA therapy to individuals with OCD, helping them overcome their challenges. We do this on a one-to-one basis and cater all treatment plans to the unique strengths and challenges that each patient has.

To learn more, please contact us today.