# Primary obsessive slowness in a young woman who benefited from continuous psychoeducation and modeling with video recordings during hospitalization: a case report

## TL;DR

A young woman with obsessive slowness improved through psychoeducation and video modeling during hospitalization.

## Contribution

Demonstrates the effectiveness of psychoeducation and video modeling for treating primary obsessive slowness.

## Key findings

- The patient regained independence in daily activities after 5 months of treatment.
- Modeling with video recordings was an effective and accessible behavioral therapy method.
- Psychoeducation helped the patient understand and manage her compulsive behaviors.

## Abstract

Obsessive slowness, a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), is characterized by compulsive behavior and significant slowness of movement. Primary obsessive slowness (POS) is defined as a condition in which a series of actions are segmented, and the patient spends an unlimited amount of time performing each action while checking each action, resulting in cessation or slowness of movement. It is often difficult to treat POS with exposure and response prevention, which is considered effective in general OCD, and no treatment has been established. Here, we discuss the effectiveness of psychoeducation and modeling using video recordings in the treatment of POS.

We report a case of POS in a 19-year-old woman. Each action was subdivided and ordered, and the patient could not proceed to the next action without confirming that the previous step had been performed. Therefore, she could not live her daily life independently; for instance, toileting and bathing required more than 1 h, even with assistance. After more than 5 months of long-term treatment, including pharmacotherapy, psychoeducation, and modeling with video recordings, she recovered to live her daily life independently.

Psychoeducation and behavioral therapy can effectively treat POS. Particularly, modeling with video recordings would be an easy-to-use option for POS treatment.