The PMHNP is seeing a patient who has been in Exposure-Response Therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder for the last four months with suboptimal clinical improvement. After consulting with the therapist the PMHNP is discussing the addition of pharmacotherapy with the patient. The patient is advised that SSRIs may be helpful, and the most appropriate treatment expectations include: 

A. Allowing at least 12 weeks for onset of action then maintenance for at least one year. 

B. Realizing that SSRIs are not as efficacious for OCD as they are for depression and anxiety disorders and that remission is unlikely. 

C. The likelihood that change in therapeutic technique will probably be necessary as an adjunct to medication. 

D. Some degree of gastrointestinal side effects likely due to the higher doses of SSRIs needed for OCD. 

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y36NRk-2Oic&list=PLf0PFEPBXfq5HGfNV-GbOlYHtDwd35OeG&index=71