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Controlled trial of exposure and response prevention in obsessive–compulsive disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

Merran Lindsay ,
Rocco Crino  and
Gavin Andrews
Merran Lindsay
Affiliation:
School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia
Rocco Crino*
Affiliation:
School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia
Gavin Andrews
Affiliation:
School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia
*
Rocco Crino, Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety Disorders, 299 Forbes Street, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010. Australia
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Abstract

Background

Exposure and response prevention is considered a treatment of choice for obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). Yet there have been very few randomised controlled trials employing credible placebo conditions. This study compares exposure and response prevention with a general anxiety management intervention.

Method

Eighteen patients meeting DSM–IV criteria for OCD were randomly assigned to either exposure and response prevention or anxiety management. Both treatments involved approximately 15 hours of therapy over a three-week period.

Results

There was a significant reduction in obsessive–compulsive symptoms following treatment with exposure and response prevention, while no change occurred in the control group. This was found to be statistically significant using a composite measure of OCD symptom severity, patient ratings of interference and therapist ratings of symptom severity.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that the symptom reductions associated with behaviour therapy for OCD are a result of the specific techniques of exposure and response prevention, rather than non-specific aspects of the therapy process. General anxiety management techniques are not effective in the treatment of OCD.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 171 , Issue 2 , August 1997 , pp. 135 - 139
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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