Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), considered a serious mental disorder, is highly prevalent in the population. It is also known that in most cases OCD is chronic and rarely completely disappears spontaneously. Within the available treatments, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most used, where research shows that about 70% of patients improve with treatment, reaching complete remission of symptoms. However, the results obtained through a therapeutic approach of didactic and rational posture in patients with OCD may not have effects on their inner structures, maintaining superficial modifications that may still evoke more sophisticated rituals, masking the disorder. The purpose of this study was to describe the contributions of constructivist strategies in CBT to deal with obsessions and rituals from OCD. The case reported describes the psychotherapeutic care of a 14-year-old patient with symptoms of OCD. In the diagnostic assessment, the ICD-10 and DSM-V criteria were used, as well as the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Symptom Scale. The treatment plan proposed the exploration of sensory pathways for the production of changes in the patient's emotional schemas as a way to resignify her beliefs and behavioral repertoire. Coping strategies, problem solving and relapse prevention were used. As a result, there were reductions in cognitive distortions and obsessive thoughts, remission of 18 of the 20 listed rituals, and improvement in problem-solving ability. It is suggested, therefore, that the use of constructivist strategies favors the cognitive flexibility necessary to expand the cognitive-behavioral repertoire of the patients affected by OCD.

CONSTRUCTIVIST STRATEGIES IN COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL THERAPY FOR MANAGING OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER: A CASE STUDY