Introduction
On October 31st, 2023, Dr. Adam S. Radomsky delivered a full day workshop on contemporary cognitive-behavioural approaches to the understanding and treatment of OCD. This on-demand workshop is a recording of that presentation.
Workshop Outline
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a heterogeneous disorder; common symptoms include washing and checking behaviour, as well as primary obsessions (i.e., repugnant, unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images, doubts and impulses). There has been a surge in recent research on various forms of OCD, with publications often grounded solidly in a variety of cognitively-based models and frameworks. Although these models differ to some extent in their explanation of obsessional and compulsive phenomena, they share a number of important features that are consistent with broad cognitive principles. These have enabled a new, primarily cognitive conceptualization of contamination-based OCD, building on cognitive formulations of obsessions, of (especially mental) contamination, and of compulsive checking. Although OCD remains a serious and often debilitating disorder, our ability to substantially improve the lives of those suffering from the problem has dramatically increased in recent years. This workshop will capitalize on these recent improvements through the emphasis of new cognitive and behavioural treatment strategies for this challenging disorder.
Content
This workshop will begin with a review of the theoretical and empirical work conducted on the psychopathology and treatment of different manifestations of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The workshop will continue with practical instruction on the cognitive-behavioural assessment and treatment of a variety of forms of the disorder, with particular emphasis on obsessions, compulsive checking, and contamination-based OCD (mental contamination). Attendees will learn about cognitive case formulation, the importance of ongoing assessment, and specific therapeutic interventions (with emphasis on behavioural experiments), all following from cognitive-behavioural models of OCD.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
Articulate the evidence base for a cognitive approach to understanding and treating OCD
Conduct cognitive case formulations of various presentations of OCD
Use cognitive case formulations to drive cognitively-based treatment strategies for OCD
Collaboratively design and implement behavioural experiments in OCD
Understand common beliefs in OCD, in addition to factors that may be more specific to obsessions, contamination fears, and doubting/checking.
About the Presenter
Dr. Adam Radomsky is currently a Professor in the Psychology Department at Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec. He joined Concordia University in 2001 after the completion of his Ph.D. in clinical psychology at UBC and a fellowship at Harvard Medical School / Massachusetts General Hospital. He is the Director of the Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders Laboratory at Concordia, and a Core Member of the Centre for Clinical Research in Health (CCRH). His research investigates cognitive, behavioural, and emotional aspects of OCD and a number of other anxiety disorders, as well as ways to enhance the effectiveness and acceptability of cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT) for anxiety disorders and related problems. He is a Fellow of the Canadian Psychological Association (2014), was the Founding President of the Canadian Association for Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies (2010), and has received several institutional, national and international awards for his work. Dr. Radomsky has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters related to his work on cognition, behaviour and the anxiety disorders, and is a frequent invited speaker at national and international conferences. His research is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), and has previously been funded by les Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). Dr Radomsky is also a member of l'Ordre des Psychologues du Quebec, is CACBT-ACTCC Certified in Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy and a Diplomate in cognitive therapy with the Academy of Cognitive Therapy. In his clinical practice he specializes in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for adult OCD and other anxiety disorders.
Training Modalities
This workshop will include didactic content, Q&A, video examples and experiential components.
Who should attend
This workshop is suitable for CBT practitioners who would like to expand and advance their knowledge base and/or skill set for working with OCD.
Continuing Education (CE) Credits
Bespoke Mental Health Canada is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Bespoke Mental Health Canada maintains responsibility for the program.
After viewing this workshop, participants have the option to complete an evaluation form and a workshop knowledge quiz in order to be eligible to receive a certificate confirming the number of credits awarded. This certificate will be sent via email.
Participants who complete this workshop, submit a completed evaluation form, and score a minimum of 8/10 on a content-related quiz are eligible to receive 5.5 CE credits
Fees
Professionals: $175 CAD + tax
Students*: $140 CAD + tax
* Proof of student status may be required in order to qualify for a student rate.
Key References
Rachman, S. (1997). A cognitive theory of obsessions. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 35, 793-802.
Rachman, S. (2002). A cognitive theory of compulsive checking. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 40, 625-639.
Rachman, S. (2004). Fear of contamination. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 42, 1227-1255.
Rachman, S., Coughtrey, A., Shafran, R., & Radomsky, A.S. (2015). Oxford guide to the treatment of Mental Contamination. Oxford University Press.
Radomsky, A.S., Dugas, M., Alcolado, G., & Lavoie, S. (2014). When more is less: Doubt, repetition, memory, metamemory, and compulsive checking in OCD. Behaviour Research & Therapy, 59, 30-39.
Radomsky, A.S., Shafran, R., Coughtrey, A.E., & Rachman, S. (2010). Cognitive-behavior therapy for compulsive checking in OCD. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 17, 119-131.