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Obsessive–Compulsive Contamination Fears and Anorexia Nervosa: The Application of the New Psycho-Educational Treatment of Danger Ideation Reduction Therapy (DIRT)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 February 2012

Lynne M. Drummond  and
Peter Kolb
Lynne M. Drummond*
Affiliation:
University of London, United Kingdom
Peter Kolb
Affiliation:
Springfield University Hospital, London, United Kingdom
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr Lynne M. Drummond, Consultant Psychiatrist and Senior Lecturer, St George's, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 ORE, United Kingdom. Email: l.drummond@sgul.ac.uk
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Abstract

The case history of a woman with severe and enduring anorexia nervosa and obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) with contamination fears is presented. These contamination fears centred on her fear of contamination by fat and fatty substances as she worried about gaining weight. Previous treatment with graded exposure had shown no clinically significant benefits. She was admitted to a specialist unit for the treatment of OCD as an inpatient. Due to the previous failure of the recognised psychological treatments for OCD it was decided to use the new psychoeducational approach of danger ideation reduction therapy (DIRT). This treatment resulted in an improvement in her OCD symptoms despite the fact that the emphasis of the treatment was on the risk of bacteria and dirt. It is believed that this is the first documented case of DIRT being used for a patient with anorexia nervosa and OCD.

Type
Shorter Communication
Information
Behaviour Change , Volume 25 , Issue 1 , 01 April 2008 , pp. 44 - 50
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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