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Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can be effectively treated by cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure and response prevention (ERP). Yet, little is known about the long-term effects of inpatient CBT up to one decade after treatment. Thirty patients who had been treated with 12 weeks of intensive inpatient CBT with ERP were examined 8–10 years after their stay in hospital with regard to obsessive-compulsive symptoms, secondary outcomes, and use of healthcare services. Significant (p < .001) improvements in OC symptoms with medium and large effects compared to baseline on the Yale-Brown-Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) and on the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (OCI-R) could still be observed, with 20% of the patients reaching remission status. Continuation of exposure exercises after the inpatient stay was the sole significant factor for improved scores at follow-up. The results suggest that OCD does not necessarily take a chronic course. However, maintenance of exposure training seems to be crucial for sustained improvement.

In 2022, the first revised version of the S3 guidelines on obsessive-compulsive disorder will be published under the auspices of the German Society for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics (DGPPN). This article contains a summary of the most important recommendations for therapy in a condensed form. There were no major changes in the central basic therapy recommendations compared with the first version of the guidelines, as the evidence base has not fundamentally changed since then. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure and response management is the most effective form of therapy for this clinical picture and therefore the therapy of first choice. Regarding pharmacotherapy, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are the first-line medications. They are indicated when CBT with exposure is not available or has not been effective, when CBT is rejected by the patient and in the patient's personal preference for medication, or to increase the readiness for CBT with exposure. New recommendations include, e.g., the use of Internet therapy, and recommendations for the use of CBT and exposure, e.g., also in group format, including video conferencing if appropriate as well as in intensive format.Unter Federführung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Psychosomatik und Nervenheilkunde (DGPPN) erscheint 2022 die erste revidierte Fassung der S3-Leitlinie Zwangsstörungen. Dieser Beitrag enthält eine Zusammenfassung der wichtigsten Empfehlungen zur Therapie in komprimierter Form. Wesentliche Änderungen der zentralen Therapieempfehlungen haben sich im Vergleich mit der ersten Version der Leitlinie nicht ergeben, da sich die Evidenzlage seither nicht grundlegend verändert hat. Kognitive Verhaltenstherapie mit Exposition und Reaktionsmanagement ist die wirksamste Therapieform bei diesem Krankheitsbild und daher die Therapie der ersten Wahl. Bezüglich der Pharmakotherapie sind selektive Serotoninwiederaufnahmehemmer die Medikamente der ersten Wahl. Sie sind dann indiziert, wenn kognitive Verhaltenstherapie (KVT) mit Exposition nicht verfügbar ist oder nicht wirksam war, wenn KVT vom Patienten abgelehnt wird, bei persönlicher Präferenz des Patienten für Medikamente oder um die Bereitschaft für KVT mit Exposition zu erhöhen. Neue Empfehlungen betreffen u. a. den Einsatz von Internettherapie sowie Empfehlungen zur Anwendung von KVT und Exposition auch im Gruppenformat, gegebenenfalls auch per Videokonferenz, sowie in intensiver Form.

Hoarding often occurs without obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), it shows distinguishable neuropsychological and neurobiological correlates and a distinct comorbidity spectrum. Further, it occurs secondarily to other psychiatric and neurobiological disorders. Therefore hoarding disorder has been included as a distinct diagnosis in DSM-5.Neuroimaging studies point to functional and structural abnormalities of networks subserving decision making, attention, action planning and emotional regulation.The cognitive-behavioral model outlines the most important characteristics of pathological hoarding, comprising deficits of information processing, maladaptive beliefs about information processing deficits, maladaptive beliefs about posessions as well as emotional attachment to them accompanied with emotional distress and avoidance.Because of a low willingness for therapy plus a high rate of discontinuation of therapy, a manualized cognitive-behavioral therapy approach for pathological hoarding has been established. It builds on observational learning, cognitive strategies, graduated exposure, response prevention, training/coaching to sort out, and relapse prevention are key components of the treatment. Particularily in case of lacking motivation for any kind of behavioral therapy or other psychological treatments, a pharmacotherapy with SSRIs is recommended.