Effectiveness of Cognitive Therapy for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: An Open Trial

Abstract

This study examined the effectiveness of a new type of purely Beckian cognitive treatment for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The manualized treatment used a flexible format permitting therapists to choose among several modules developed to address specific OCD belief domains identified by the Obsessive-Compulsive Cognition Working Group (1997). Fifteen participants diagnosed with OCD were treated individually for 14 weekly sessions. Ten participants had never received behavior therapy, and 5 participants had failed to benefit from exposure and response prevention (ERP) in the past. Participants improved with respect to their depressive and obsessive-compulsive symptoms over the course of the treatment. However, those who had never received ERP improved more than those who had failed to benefit from prior ERP. Implications of the study are discussed.