New OCD treatment having dramatic results in New Zealand, expert says
A clinical psychologist in New Zealand is reporting positive early results from a four-day intensive treatment program for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. The program, adapted from a Norwegian model, aims to address significant gaps in mental health service access.
Why it matters
It highlights a potential scalable solution for treating OCD in regions where specialized mental health care is currently difficult to access.
An intense four-day programme backed by a Norwegian cheese company is delivering impressive early results. Dr Marthinus Bekker hopes this is just the beginning.
RNZ Digital reporters 24 October 2026 5 min read Caption: Dr Marthinus Bekker. Photo credit: Supplied A clinical psychologist says a breakthrough treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is having dramatic early results in New Zealand.
Dr Marthinus Bekker, a senior lecturer at the University of Auckland, is one of the clinical leads for the charity Open Closed Doors, which has brought the Bergen 4-Day Treatment from Norway to NZ.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in