It was an honor to present Rumination in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Catching the Sneakiest of Compulsions at the 54th Annual Congress of the European Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies (EABCT 2024) in Belgrade, Serbia. This session highlighted the covert nature of rumination as a mental compulsion in OCD, its role in maintaining distress, and its link to hopelessness.

Through psychoeducation, awareness-building, and practical CBT strategies, clinicians can help patients identify and disrupt rumination, fostering tolerance for uncertainty. I’m grateful for the rich discussions with peers, which reinforced the importance of targeting this often-overlooked compulsion in OCD treatment.

What is Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT)?

Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is a widely used, evidence-based approach to mental health treatment, developed in the 1960s. CBT operates on the idea that thoughts influence emotions and behaviours, and by identifying and modifying unhelpful thinking patterns, individuals can achieve meaningful changes in their mental well-being.

CBT is a collaborative, problem-focused, and time-limited therapy that uses techniques such as thought records, behavioural experiments, and exposure therapy. Research strongly supports its effectiveness in treating a range of conditions, including anxiety, depression, OCD, and more.

For training resources and reading materials, visit the CBT Training section on the CACBT website.