Extensivebergen Treatment: A Severe Approach for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

"Extreme Therapy for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: The Bergen Method"

In the heart of Bergen, Norway, a groundbreaking treatment for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) has been making waves in the mental health community. The Bergen four-day treatment, a concentrated form of exposure therapy, has been successfully helping over 1,200 individuals since its inception in 2012.

Created by Gerd Kvale and Bjarne Hansen, this innovative approach to OCD treatment lasts for four intensive days at Haukeland University Hospital. The programme begins with therapists providing patients with essential information about OCD and preparing them for the exposure tasks they will face over the next two days.

The following two days are dedicated to prolonged therapy sessions, focusing on Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy and the LET- technique. The LET- technique encourages patients to focus specifically on anxiety-eliciting moments, helping them confront and manage their fears effectively.

During the exposure portion of the treatment, people face their fears head-on by engaging in activities that trigger their anxiety. This bold approach has proven to be highly effective, with impressive results reported in June 2012, when the first group of patients showed immense improvements in their OCD symptoms.

The third day is set aside for discussion and planning how to maintain the gains made during therapy. A group of three to six therapists work with an equal number of patients during the treatment, ensuring a personalised and supportive environment.

The effectiveness of the Bergen four-day treatment has garnered international attention, with plans to bring this treatment plan to other countries, including the United States. Clinical psychologist Avital Falk has stated that more clinicians are adopting concentrated therapy, including the Bergen method.

However, there are still unanswered questions regarding the treatment's effectiveness for those whose compulsions are mostly mental and its applicability to those dealing with recovery avoidance. Despite these questions, the results have been undeniably impressive, earning Gerd Kvale and Bjarne Hansen recognition as two of 2018's 50 most influential people in healthcare by Time magazine.

In August 2018, a long-term analysis of the treatment's effects was published, reporting that 56 of 77 patients remained in remission four years after treatment, and 41 of the 56 had fully recovered. This long-term success underscores the Bergen four-day treatment's potential as a life-changing solution for those struggling with OCD.

The Bergen four-day treatment is already being applied in Norway, the Netherlands, and Denmark, offering hope to countless individuals seeking relief from the grip of OCD. As more people benefit from this revolutionary approach, it is clear that more of the right kind of therapy, such as the Bergen four-day OCD treatment, is always a good thing.