Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Plus Motivational Interviewing for Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

New York State Psychiatric Institute

Status and phase

Completed

Phase 1

Conditions

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Treatments

Behavioral: Motivational interviewing plus exposure and response prevention (MI plus EX/RP)

Behavioral: Exposure and response prevention (EX/RP)

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

NIH

Identifiers

NCT00316316

DAHBR 96-BHA

R34MH071570 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

#5124

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study will determine the effectiveness of adding motivational interviewing to cognitive behavioral therapy, consisting of exposure and ritual prevention, in improving treatment outcomes in people with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Full description

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a chronic and debilitating anxiety disorder. People with OCD often experience recurrent unwanted thoughts, or obsessions. Some examples of obsessions include the following: repetitive fears of causing harm or being harmed; fears of contamination and illness; fears of making mistakes; intrusive distressing sexual or religious imagery; and fears of losing things. In an effort to relieve anxiety about these obsessions, people with OCD develop repetitive behaviors called compulsions. Some examples of compulsions include the following: repetitive washing and cleaning; excessive checking; excessive ordering and arranging; and extreme hoarding and saving. These thoughts and behaviors interfere with everyday life to a great extent. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) with exposure and ritual prevention (EX/RP) is a standard treatment for OCD. EX/RP involves both imaginary and real exposure to situations or settings that may stimulate OCD behavior, and it requires that patients refrain from ritualizing. Motivational interviewing (MI) may help to enhance an individual's motivation to change by exploring and resolving ambivalence. This study will determine the effectiveness of adding MI to CBT that consists of EX/RP in improving treatment outcome in people with OCD.

Participants in this single-blind study will be randomly assigned to receive either standard CBT with EX/RP or CBT with EX/RP plus MI. All participants will report to the study site twice weekly for both therapy and assessments for a total of 2 months. Assessments will include interviews and self-rating forms. No medication will be administered during this study. However, participants will continue on any medication that they are taking at the time of study entry. All participants will be assessed for outcomes upon study completion. Participants who respond to therapy will be assessed again 6 months following study completion.

Enrollment

30 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18 to 70 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Primary diagnosis of OCD as defined by DSM-IV
Obsessions and/or compulsions must have been present for at least one year
At pre-treatment, a minimum on Y-BOCS on items 1-10 of 16
If on psychiatric medication, patient has been on stable SRI dose for a minimum of 12 weeks (and four weeks for concomitant OCD meds,e.g., benzos and antipsychotics) and plans to remain on a stable dose for the duration of the EX/RP+MI treatment.
Able to provide informed consent
No prior adequate EX/RP treatment (defined as at least 8 exposure sessions that include response prevention instructions and between sessions assignments in a 2 month period)
Based on hx, subject is unlikely to require a change in med during the course of EX/RP/EX/RP+MI treatment

Exclusion criteria

Any additional medical or psychiatric conditions that could make participation in the study medically inadvisable
Currently receiving psychotherapy at another clinic