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Clinically Speaking: From The Docs: A TPS® Continuing Education Limited Library Series

Untangling OCD and Eating Disorders: Differential Diagnosis and Exposure Based Treatment Across Overlapping Conditions

Jennifer Park, Ph.D.
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Description

Eating disorders (ED) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can frequently co-occur, creating diagnostic and treatment challenges for clinicians, especially those specialized in only one area. This presentation clarifies key distinctions—such as the central role of body image and weight concerns in ED versus classic OCD—while highlighting overlapping features, including ritualistic behaviors and distress when compulsions are interrupted. We review principles of Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), outline how ED interventions parallel ERP strategies, and briefly address body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). Case examples illustrate differential diagnosis and offer practical ERP-based tools for treating OCD in ED patients and managing disordered eating.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

  • Apply cognitive‑behavioral and exposure‑based conceptual models (including ERP, distress tolerance, and expectancy violation) to formulate integrated treatment plans for patients with overlapping OCD and eating‑disorder symptoms.

  • Design exposure and response‑prevention strategies that are appropriately modified for co-morbid eating‑disorder care, including the use of food‑based and situational hierarchies within a multimodal treatment framework.

Educational Goal

This presentation aims to enhance clinicians’ professional growth by strengthening their ability to thoughtfully differentiate and conceptualize overlapping OCD and eating-disorder presentations, with particular attention to shared maintenance processes such as avoidance, safety behaviors, and core fears that drive ongoing impairment. It further seeks to build advanced clinical skill and treatment sophistication by helping providers apply and adapt exposure-based principles—especially ERP, distress tolerance, and expectancy violation—within integrated, multimodal care to more effectively treat complex comorbid cases in future clinical practice

Target Audience

  • Addiction Professional
  • Counselor
  • Dietitian
  • Marriage & Family Therapist
  • Nurse
  • Nutritionist
  • Physician
  • Psychologist
  • Social Worker

Presenters

Jennifer Park, Ph.D.
Jennifer Park, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist and an expert in cognitive behavioral therapy. She is currently the Vice President of Clinical Services at Acadia Healthcare and oversees clinical services across all Acadia service lines. She also serves as an adjunct faculty member at Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr Park received her PhD in clinical psychology at the University of South Florida where she completed her clinical and research training with a focus on cognitive behavioral therapy in pediatric OCD and OC-spectrum disorders. She completed her pre-doctoral and post-doctoral fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School. Dr Park has published numerous articles regarding CBT mechanisms and treatment outcomes and has developed group CBT programs for children, adolescents and adults. She is actively involved in presenting her work at national conferences as well as providing ongoing clinical training to communities both locally and nationally.

Financially Sponsored By

  • Acadia Healthcare Treatment Placement Specialists® (TPS)