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Jonathan Abramowitz
Abramowitz in 2026
Born
Jonathan Stuart Abramowitz

(1969-06-11) June 11, 1969 (age 57)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Education
OccupationsClinical psychologist, professor, researcher, author
OrganizationUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Known forExpertise in the treatment and study of OCD; exposure and response prevention; OCD assessment
Website

Jonathan Stuart Abramowitz (born June 11, 1969) is an American clinical psychologist, researcher, and professor of psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH).[1] He is an internationally recognized expert on obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) and anxiety disorders.[2] His work has had a substantial impact, having received more than 24,000 citations, according to the Scopus database.[3]

Abramowitz served as president of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) in 2015[4], and is the founding editor-in-chief of the Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders.[5] He directs the Clinical Psychology PhD Training Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.[6]

Abramowitz is board certified by the American Board of Behavioral Psychology and is a licensed psychologist in North Carolina.[7] In his clinical practice, he specializes in providing outpatient consultation and treatment for adults and families affected by OCD and other anxiety-related problems.[8] Abramowitz also provides professional training workshops for clinicians.[9]

Academic career

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Abramowitz earned a B.A. in Psychology from Muhlenberg College in 1991, a M.A. in psychology from Bucknell University in 1993, and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Memphis in 1998. He completed his predoctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the Center for Treatment and Study of Anxiety at the University of Pennsylvania.[8]

From 2000-2006 he held clinical and academic appointments at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minnesota). In 2006 he joined the faculty of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he is a professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience.[8]

Abramowitz has authored approximately 350 scholarly publications, including books, book chapters, and peer reviewed journal articles.[8] He serves on various journal editorial boards and on the International OCD Foundation's Scientific and Clinical Advisory Board.[10][11][12]

Research areas and contributions

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Treatment of OCD and anxiety disorders

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Abramowitz conducts research on psychological treatments for OCD, particularly cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure and response prevention (ERP).[13] His work includes treatment outcome studies and systematic reviews (meta-analyses) examining the effectiveness of ERP and cognitive interventions for OCD.[14]

His research also examines factors associated with treatment outcomes and ways to improve the implementation of exposure-based interventions. In addition to evaluating traditional ERP approaches, Abramowitz and colleagues have investigated the integration of cognitive and acceptance-based strategies into OCD treatment, including acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).[15]

Abramowitz has written about theoretical developments in exposure therapy, including the application of extinction and inhibitory learning principles to OCD treatment.[16] His work has addressed how exposure-based interventions can help patients develop new learning about feared situations and reduce reliance on compulsive behaviors.[17]

OCD Symptom dimensions and assessment

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Abramowitz investigates the heterogeneous nature of OCD symptoms and their organization into empirically derived dimensions. His research examines distinctions among contamination-related symptoms, responsibility for harm, unacceptable thoughts, and symmetry or incompleteness concerns, as well as the implications of these distinctions for assessment and treatment.[18]

In 2010, Abramowitz led a research team that developed the Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (DOCS), a 20-item self-report instrument designed to assess the severity of four major OCD symptom dimensions. The original validation study evaluated the measure in clinical and nonclinical samples and found evidence supporting its reliability, validity, and sensitivity to treatment-related change.[19] The DOCS has become one of the most widely used measures of OCD symptom severity.[20]

Abramowitz has also collaborated on the development and evaluation of brief OCD screening instruments, including the four-item Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (OCI-4), and has examined their application in different clinical populations.[21]

Cognitive-behavioral and motivational models of OCD

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Abramowitz also examines cognitive and behavioral processes associated with the development and maintenance of OCD symptoms. His studies investigates the roles of inflated responsibility, thought-action fusion, intolerance of uncertainty, and other obsessive beliefs in the interpretation of unwanted intrusive thoughts. This work has included experimental and longitudinal investigations of cognitive factors associated with OCD symptoms.[22]

Abramowitz and colleagues have also examined the relationship between OCD and ordinary intrusive thoughts, including the processes through which such experiences may become associated with distress, avoidance, and compulsive behavior.

His more recent work examines the limitations of classifying OCD primarily according to symptom content. This approach emphasizes the affective and motivational processes underlying obsessions and compulsions, including the avoidance of perceived threat, guilt, disgust, and feelings of incompleteness, as potentially relevant to clinical formulation and exposure-based treatment.[23]

Scrupulosity

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Abramowitz has conducted research on scrupulosity, a presentation of OCD involving religious or moral obsessions and compulsions. His work has examined the cognitive and behavioral processes associated with scrupulosity, including inflated responsibility, feared moral transgressions, and compulsive reassurance seeking.[24]

He co-developed the Penn Inventory of Scrupulosity (PIOS), a self-report measure of religious obsessions and compulsions.[25] He also published a cognitive-behavioral analysis of scrupulosity addressing its relationship to ordinary religious practices and implications for exposure and response prevention.[26]

Perinatal and postpartum OCD

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Abramowitz has investigated obsessive-compulsive symptoms during pregnancy and the postpartum period, including the occurrence of unwanted intrusive thoughts, cognitive risk factors, and changes in symptoms during the transition to parenthood.[27]

His longitudinal research has found that obsessive beliefs predict the development or persistence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms following childbirth.[28] He also collaborated on the development and evaluation of Baby PREP, a cognitive-behavioral prevention program designed to reduce postpartum obsessive-compulsive symptoms.[29]

More recent studies have examined relationships among perinatal obsessive-compulsive symptoms, depressive symptoms, partner relationship quality, and maternal-infant bonding.[30]

Cultural and contextual factors

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Abramowitz has examined cultural and contextual influences on obsessive-compulsive symptoms, including differences in the occurrence, interpretation, and appraisal of unwanted intrusive thoughts across populations.[31]

His collaborative research has also investigated how religious beliefs, cultural background, and social experiences may relate to obsessive-compulsive symptoms and their assessment.[32]

Awards, recognition, and leadership

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Abramowitz was elected to serve as president of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) from 2014 to 2015 and is a Fellow of the association.[33] He has also served on the Board of Directors of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America and in currently a member of the Scientific and Clinical Advisory Board of the International OCD Foundation.[34]

In scholarly publishing, Abramowitz was the founding editor-in-chief of the Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders.[35] He previously served as an associate editor of Behaviour Research and Therapy from 2006 to 2015 and of the Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy. He has also served on the editorial boards of several scientific journals in clinical psychology and behavioral therapy.

Abramowitz received the David Shakow Early Career Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Science and Practice of Clinical Psychology from Division 12 of the American Psychological Association in 2004. Other honors include the Mayo Clinic Department of Psychiatry and Psychology's Outstanding Contributions to Research Award (2003), Muhlenberg College's Alumni Achievement Award (2011), UNC-Chapel Hill Faculty Award for Excellence in Doctoral Mentoring (2020), and ABCT Spotlight on Mentoring Award (2020).[36]

Selected works

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Books

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  • Abramowitz, J. S. (2006). Understanding and treating obsessive-compulsive disorder: A cognitive-behavioral approach. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. ISBN 9780805851847
  • Abramowitz, J. S. (2018). Getting over OCD: A 10-step workbook for taking back your life (2nd edition). New York: Guilford Press. ISBN 9781593859992
  • Abramowitz, J. S., Deacon, B. J., & Whiteside, S. P. (2019). Exposure therapy for anxiety: Principles and practice (2nd ed). New York: Guilford Press. ISBN 9781462539529
  • Abramowitz, J. S., & Blakey, S. M. (2020). Clinical handbook of fear and anxiety: Maintenance processes and treatment mechanisms. Washington DC: American Psychological Association. ISBN 978-1-4338-3065-5
  • Abramowitz, J. S. (2021). The family guide to getting over OCD: Reclaim your life and help your loved one. Guilford Publications. ISBN 978-1462541362
  • Abramowitz, J. S. (2024). Living well with OCD: Practical strategies for improving your daily life. New York: Guilford press. ISBN 9781462556540
  • Abramowitz, J. S., & Jacoby, R. J. (2025). Obsessive-compulsive disorder in adults. Hogrefe Publishing. ISBN 978-0889376076

Journal articles

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  • Abramowitz, Jonathan S. (1997). "Effectiveness of psychological and pharmacological treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorder: A quantitative review". Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 65 (1): 44–52. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.65.1.44.
  • McKay, Dean; Abramowitz, Jonathan S.; Calamari, John E.; Kyrios, Michael (2004). "A critical evaluation of obsessive-compulsive disorder subtypes: Symptoms versus mechanisms". Clinical Psychology Review. 24 (3): 283–313. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2004.04.003.
  • Taylor, Steven; Zvolensky, Michael J.; Cox, Brian J.; Deacon, Brett J.; Heimberg, Richard G.; Ledley, Deborah Roth; Abramowitz, Jonathan S. (2007). "Robust dimensions of anxiety sensitivity: Development and initial validation of the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3". Psychological Assessment. 19 (2): 176–188. doi:10.1037/1040-3590.19.2.176.
  • Abramowitz, Jonathan S.; Taylor, Steven; McKay, Dean (2009). "Obsessive-compulsive disorder". The Lancet. 374 (9688): 491–499. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(09)60240-3.
  • Abramowitz, Jonathan S.; Deacon, Brett J.; Olatunji, Bunmi O.; Wheaton, Michael G.; Berman, Noah C. (2010). "Assessment of obsessive-compulsive symptom dimensions: Development and evaluation of the Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale". Psychological Assessment. 22 (1): 180–198. doi:10.1037/a0018260.
  • Abramowitz, Jonathan S. (2013). "The practice of exposure therapy: Relevance of cognitive-behavioral theory and extinction theory". Behavior Therapy. 44 (4): 548–558. doi:10.1016/j.beth.2013.03.003.
  • Abramowitz, Jonathan S.; Fabricant, Laura E.; Taylor, Steven; Deacon, Brett J.; McKay, Dean; Storch, Eric A. (2014). "The relevance of analogue studies for understanding obsessions and compulsions". Clinical Psychology Review. 34 (3): 206–217. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2014.01.004.
  • Abramowitz, Jonathan S.; Blakey, Shannon M.; Reuman, Lillian; Buchholz, Jennifer L. (2018). "New directions in the cognitive-behavioral treatment of OCD: Theory, research, and practice". Behavior Therapy. 49 (3): 311–322. doi:10.1016/j.beth.2017.09.002.
  • Abramowitz, Jonathan S.; Hellberg, Samantha N.; Krasnow, Janice; et al. (2025). "Prenatal obsessive beliefs predict postpartum obsessive-compulsive symptoms: A prospective study". Psychiatry Research. 351: 116620. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116620.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: article number as page number (link)
  • Abramowitz, Jonathan S.; Abramovitch, Amitai; McKay, Dean; Draffin, Alyssa (2026). "Management of obsessive-compulsive disorder in adults". BMJ. 392: e083443. doi:10.1136/bmj-2024-083443.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: article number as page number (link)
  • Abramowitz, Jonathan S.; Melli, Gabriele (2026). "From topography to function: Rethinking the conceptualization of obsessive-compulsive disorder". Behavior Therapy. doi:10.1016/j.beth.2026.10.001.
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References

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  1. ↑ "Core Faculty | Department Of Psychology and Neuroscience". psychology.unc.edu. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  2. ↑ "Jonathan Abramowitz". Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies. Retrieved 2026-11-08.
  3. ↑ "Jonathan S. Abramowitz – Author Profile". Scopus. Elsevier. Retrieved 2026-11-08.
  4. ↑ "Past Presidents - About ABCT". ABCT - Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies. Retrieved 2026-11-09.
  5. ↑ "Editorial board - Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders". www.sciencedirect.com. Retrieved 2026-11-09.
  6. ↑ "Faculty | Clinical Psychology Graduate Program". clinicalpsych.unc.edu. Retrieved 2026-11-09.
  7. ↑ "Faculty and Staff | Psychology and Neuroscience Community Clinic". clinic.unc.edu. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "About Jon Abramowitz, PhD | OCD and Anxiety Expert in CBT and ERP". Jonathan S. Abramowitz, PhD - Clinical Psychologist. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
  9. ↑ "Workshops". Jonathan S. Abramowitz, PhD - Clinical Psychologist. Retrieved 2026-11-09.
  10. ↑ "Editorial Board: Clinical Case Studies". Sage Journals. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
  11. ↑ "Learn about Cognitive Behaviour Therapy". Taylor & Francis. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
  12. ↑ "Abramowitz, Jonathan". Hoarding. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
  13. ↑ Abramowitz, Jonathan S.; Blakey, Shannon M.; Reuman, Lillian; Buchholz, Jennifer L. (2018-05-01). "New Directions in the Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of OCD: Theory, Research, and Practice". Behavior Therapy. 49 (3): 311–322. doi:10.1016/j.beth.2017.09.002. ISSN 0005-7894.
  14. ↑ Twohig, Michael P.; Abramowitz, Jonathan S.; Smith, Brooke M.; Fabricant, Laura E.; Jacoby, Ryan J.; Morrison, Kate L.; Bluett, Ellen J.; Reuman, Lillian; Blakey, Shannon M.; Ledermann, Thomas (2018). "Adding acceptance and commitment therapy to exposure and response prevention for obsessive-compulsive disorder: A randomized controlled trial". Behaviour Research and Therapy. 108: 1–9. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2018.06.005. ISSN 0005-7967.
  15. ↑ Twohig, Michael P.; Abramowitz, Jonathan S.; Smith, Brooke M.; Fabricant, Laura E.; Jacoby, Ryan J.; Morrison, Kate L.; Bluett, Ellen J.; Reuman, Lillian; Blakey, Shannon M.; Ledermann, Thomas (2018-09-01). "Adding acceptance and commitment therapy to exposure and response prevention for obsessive-compulsive disorder: A randomized controlled trial". Behaviour Research and Therapy. 108: 1–9. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2018.06.005. ISSN 0005-7967.
  16. ↑ "Exposure Therapy for Anxiety: Second Edition: Principles and Practice". Guilford Press. Retrieved 2026-11-09.
  17. ↑ Jacoby, Ryan J.; Abramowitz, Jonathan S. (2016-11-01). "Inhibitory learning approaches to exposure therapy: A critical review and translation to obsessive-compulsive disorder". Clinical Psychology Review. 49: 28–40. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2016.07.001. ISSN 0272-7358.
  18. ↑ Abramowitz, Jonathan S.; Deacon, Brett J.; Olatunji, Bunmi O.; Wheaton, Michael G.; Berman, Noah C.; Losardo, Diane; Timpano, Kiara R.; McGrath, Patrick B.; Riemann, Bradley C.; Adams, Thomas; Björgvinsson, Thröstur; Storch, Eric A.; Hale, Lisa R. (2010). "Assessment of obsessive-compulsive symptom dimensions: Development and evaluation of the Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale". Psychological Assessment. 22 (1): 180–198. doi:10.1037/a0018260. ISSN 1939-134X.
  19. ↑ Abramowitz, Jonathan S.; Deacon, Brett J.; Olatunji, Bunmi O.; Wheaton, Michael G.; Berman, Noah C.; Losardo, Diane; Timpano, Kiara R.; McGrath, Patrick B.; Riemann, Bradley C.; Adams, Thomas; Björgvinsson, Thröstur; Storch, Eric A.; Hale, Lisa R. (2010). "Assessment of obsessive-compulsive symptom dimensions: Development and evaluation of the Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale". Psychological Assessment. 22 (1): 180–198. doi:10.1037/a0018260. ISSN 1939-134X.
  20. ↑ Lee, Eric B.; Wetterneck, Chad T.; McIngvale, Elizabeth; Williams, Monnica T.; Björgvinsson, Thröstur (July 2024). "Rethinking Unacceptable Thoughts: Validation of an Expanded Version of the Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale". Behavior Therapy. 55 (4): 786–800. doi:10.1016/j.beth.2023.11.003. ISSN 1878-1888. PMID 38937050.
  21. ↑ Abramovitch, Amitai; Abramowitz, Jonathan S.; McKay, Dean (2021-03-01). "The OCI-4: An ultra-brief screening scale for obsessive-compulsive disorder". Journal of Anxiety Disorders. 78: 102354. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2021.102354. ISSN 0887-6185.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: article number as page number (link)
  22. ↑ Abramowitz, Jonathan S.; Khandker, Maheruh; Nelson, Christy A.; Deacon, Brett J.; Rygwall, Rebecca (2006). "The role of cognitive factors in the pathogenesis of obsessive–compulsive symptoms: A prospective study". Behaviour Research and Therapy. 44 (9): 1361–1374. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2005.09.011. ISSN 0005-7967.
  23. ↑ Abramowitz, Jonathan S.; Melli, Gabriele (2026). "From Topography to Function: Rethinking the Conceptualization of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder". Behavior Therapy. doi:10.1016/j.beth.2026.10.001. ISSN 0005-7894.
  24. ↑ Inozu, Mujgan; Myers, Nicholas S.; Juel, Emily K.; Friedman, Joseph B.; Abramowitz, Jonathan S. (2025-07-10). "Differentiating Scrupulosity and Religiosity: The Mediating Role of Fear of Self, Inferential Confusion, and Obsessive Beliefs in Mental and Contact Contamination". Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy. Springer. doi:10.1891/JCP-2025-0003. ISSN 0889-8391.
  25. ↑ Abramowitz, Jonathan S; D. Huppert, Jonathan; Cohen, Adam B; Tolin, David F; Cahill, Shawn P (2002-07-01). "Religious obsessions and compulsions in a non-clinical sample: the Penn Inventory of Scrupulosity (PIOS)". Behaviour Research and Therapy. 40 (7): 825–838. doi:10.1016/S0005-7967(01)00070-5. ISSN 0005-7967.
  26. ↑ Abramowitz, Jonathan S.; Jacoby, Ryan J. (2014). "Scrupulosity: A cognitive–behavioral analysis and implications for treatment". Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders. 3 (2): 140–149. doi:10.1016/j.jocrd.2013.12.007. ISSN 2211-3649.
  27. ↑ Samuels, Jack; Kimmel, Mary; Krasnow, Janice; Musci, Rashelle; Nestadt, Paul S.; Osborne, Lauren M.; Storch, Eric A.; Abramowitz, Jonathan S.; Nestadt, Gerald (2026-01-16). "Onset and exacerbation of obsessive–compulsive disorder in the perinatal period". Archives of Women's Mental Health. 29 (1): 19. doi:10.1007/s00737-025-01647-1. ISSN 1435-1102. PMC 12808193. PMID 41540218.
  28. ↑ Abramowitz, Jonathan S.; Hellberg, Samantha N.; Krasnow, Janice; Friedman, Joseph B.; Myers, Nicholas S.; Nestadt, Paul S.; Ojalehto, Heidi J.; Juel, Emily K.; Samuels, Jack; Kimmel, Mary E.; Osborne, Lauren M.; Storch, Eric A.; Nestadt, Gerald; Musci, Rashelle J. (2025-09-01). "Prenatal obsessive beliefs predict postpartum obsessive-compulsive symptoms: a prospective study". Psychiatry Research. 351: 116620. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116620. ISSN 0165-1781. PMC 12321878. PMID 40628003.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: article number as page number (link)
  29. ↑ Timpano, Kiara R.; Abramowitz, Jonathan S.; Mahaffey, Brittain L.; Mitchell, Melissa A.; Schmidt, Norman B. (2011). "Efficacy of a prevention program for postpartum obsessive–compulsive symptoms". Journal of Psychiatric Research. 45 (11): 1511–1517. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2011.06.015. ISSN 0022-3956.
  30. ↑ Njoh, Journa; Abramowitz, Jonathan S.; Musci, Rashelle; Kimmel, Mary C.; Osborne, Lauren M.; Samuels, Jack; Nestadt, Paul; Nestadt, Gerald; Storch, Eric A. (2026-03-28). "Perinatal obsessive–compulsive symptoms and maternal-infant bonding: A longitudinal examination of depression and relationship quality". Archives of Women's Mental Health. 29 (2): 56. doi:10.1007/s00737-026-01694-2. ISSN 1435-1102. PMC 13031229. PMID 41896388.
  31. ↑ Clark, David A.; Abramowitz, Jon; Alcolado, Gillian M.; Alonso, Pino; Belloch, Amparo; Bouvard, Martine; Coles, Meredith E.; Doron, Guy; Fernández-Álvarez, Hector; Garcia-Soriano, Gemma; Ghisi, Marta; Gomez, Beatriz; Inozu, Mujgan; Moulding, Richard; Radomsky, Adam S. (2014). "Part 3. A question of perspective: The association between intrusive thoughts and obsessionality in 11 countries". Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders. 3 (3): 292–299. doi:10.1016/j.jocrd.2013.12.006. ISSN 2211-3649.
  32. ↑ Inozu, Mujgan; Myers, Nicholas S.; Juel, Emily K.; Friedman, Joseph B.; Abramowitz, Jonathan S. (2025-07-10). "Differentiating Scrupulosity and Religiosity: The Mediating Role of Fear of Self, Inferential Confusion, and Obsessive Beliefs in Mental and Contact Contamination". Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy. Springer. doi:10.1891/JCP-2025-0003. ISSN 0889-8391.
  33. ↑ "Past Presidents - About ABCT". ABCT - Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies. Retrieved 2026-11-09.
  34. ↑ "Scientific and Clinical Advisory Board". International OCD Foundation. Retrieved 2026-11-09.
  35. ↑ "Editorial board - Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders | ScienceDirect.com by Elsevier". www.sciencedirect.com. Retrieved 2026-11-09.
  36. ↑ "About Jon Abramowitz, PhD | OCD and Anxiety Expert in CBT and ERP". Jonathan S. Abramowitz, PhD - Clinical Psychologist. Retrieved 2026-11-09.
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