Danger Ideation Reduction Therapy for Obsessive–Compulsive Washers

A Comprehensive Guide to Treatment

Tamsen St Clare, Ross G. Menzies & Mairwen K. Jones

Clinical manual + downloadable treatment resources and video interviews

Danger Ideation Reduction Therapy (DIRT) for Obsessive–Compulsive Washers is a comprehensive clinical treatment package developed specifically for working with contamination-focused OCD and compulsive washing. DIRT focuses on the exaggerated expectations of illness, contamination and danger that can underlie compulsive washing and avoidance. Rather than presenting a single technique, the program brings together six treatment components that clinicians can use selectively or in combination according to the needs of the individual client. These include attentional focusing, cognitive restructuring, corrective information, microbiological experiments, filmed interviews and the probability-of-catastrophe task.

Cognitive restructuring forms a central part of the approach, with particular attention given to identifying and challenging thoughts and beliefs concerning contamination, illness and disease. The manual provides detailed guidance for presenting the treatment rationale, working through the individual components and integrating them within clinical practice.

Originally published as a book-and-disc treatment package, the companion resources are now supplied digitally with purchase, making them considerably easier to access and use in contemporary clinical practice.

Your purchase includes

• the complete paperback clinical manual
• downloadable client handouts, information sheets, monitoring forms and worksheets
• downloadable video interviews, converted from the original DVD to MP4 format for easy viewing on current computers and devices

The filmed material includes interviews with people working in occupations involving everyday contact with substances or environments relevant to contamination fears. The interviews form part of the DIRT treatment approach by providing clients with realistic information about risk and everyday exposure.

The downloadable clinical materials support the treatment components covered in the manual, including attentional focusing, cognitive restructuring, corrective information, microbiological experiments and the occupational interview material.

A specialised resource for clinicians

DIRT was developed from a program of clinical and experimental research into threat and disease expectancies in obsessive–compulsive washing. The manual describes the research underpinning the program, including treatment trials involving people with contamination concerns, treatment-resistant presentations and comparisons with exposure and response prevention.

First published in 2008, DIRT remains a distinctive specialist resource for psychologists and other appropriately qualified mental health clinicians interested in cognitive approaches to contamination-focused OCD, particularly where exaggerated beliefs about illness, disease and contamination are prominent.

As an established clinical publication, it is best used alongside current professional knowledge, contemporary clinical guidelines and the clinician's own assessment and judgement.

ISBN: 9781875378838

Softcover 132 pages + digital companion resources

Released  2008