The founder of Bergen four-day OCD treatment said its intensive approach delivers superior outcomes compared to longer, more gradual therapies.
The method has shown promising results overseas and is now undergoing trials in New Zealand with a group of 17 participants aged 18 to 25.
Dr Bjarne Hansen described the condition as marked by intrusive thoughts of dangers or misfortunes that sufferers feel compelled to control.
“You’re afraid of your own thoughts and end up in endless efforts to try to control your thoughts and keep people safe.”
Dr Hansen noted that four-year follow-ups with overseas patients who received the treatment revealed up to 70% experiencing no significant symptoms.
He explained that treating the mental disorder in young people minimises its long-term effects on both individuals and health systems.
“It’s highly stable, and people would most often suffer this 10, 20, 30 years later – if they don’t get the right kind of treatment – so it makes sense to start with young people,” Hansen said.
Dr Hansen said concentrating the treatment in a continuous four-day programme gives patients a stronger chance to break the cycle of the disorder.
“If you have 45 minutes once a week – even for years – you will not have enough time to really recognise and break this pattern so having full four days is actually giving you more time to recognise, to change and get the support you need to change this pattern.”
The process is hoped to be a game-changer for the nearly 100,000 New Zealanders living with OCD.