Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is described as which approach?

• A. Psychoanalysis
• B. Humanistic therapy
• C. Pharmacotherapy
• D. Cognitive-behavioral therapy

Answer: (D)

Exposure and Response Prevention is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy. It combines structured exposure to anxiety-provoking triggers with deliberate prevention of the associated compulsive responses. Through repeated exposure, the anxiety tends to decrease (habituation), and the person learns that the feared outcome is unlikely or tolerable without the ritual. This approach often includes a hierarchical plan (gradual exposure) and strategies to challenge obsessive beliefs, aligning behavior change with cognitive skills. It’s distinct from psychoanalysis, which centers on unconscious processes and past conflicts; from humanistic therapy, which emphasizes unconditional positive regard and self-actualization; and from pharmacotherapy, which relies on medications.