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Reuter B, Miano A, Wassermann J, Elsner B. Why does exposure-based therapy fail in some individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder? Expert Rev Neurother 2024; 24:723-726. [PMID: 38875186 DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2024.2365949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt Reuter
- MSB Medical School Berlin, Department of Human Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Annemarie Miano
- MSB Medical School Berlin, Department of Human Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Josepha Wassermann
- MSB Medical School Berlin, Department of Human Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Björn Elsner
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department of Psychology, Berlin, Germany
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Xu J, Falkenstein MJ, Kuckertz JM. Feeling more confident to encounter negative emotions: The mediating role of distress tolerance on the relationship between self-efficacy and outcomes of exposure and response prevention for OCD. J Affect Disord 2024; 353:19-26. [PMID: 38423365 PMCID: PMC11059676 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.02.091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While exposure and response prevention (ERP) is the first-line treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), up to half of patients do not effectively respond. In an effort to better understand the mechanisms behind ERP, the inhibitory learning model emphasizes the roles of increasing perceived self-efficacy and distress tolerance. While self-efficacy and distress tolerance have separately been shown to predict OCD symptoms and treatment outcomes, no studies have assessed their joint effects in ERP. The current study examined distress tolerance as a mediator of the relationship between self-efficacy and ERP outcomes. METHODS Patients in an intensive ERP-based treatment program (N = 116) completed weekly self-report measures. RESULTS Over the course of treatment, as OCD symptoms reduced, self-efficacy and distress tolerance both significantly increased. Importantly, increases in self-efficacy and distress tolerance mediated each other in explaining symptom reduction, suggesting a possible bi-directional effect. LIMITATIONS The temporal relationship between changes in self-efficacy and distress tolerance is worthy of further investigation. In addition, the current sample had limited racial diversity and might not be representative of patients receiving lower levels of care. Findings merit replication to be ascertained of their reliability. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that during ERP, patients gain confidence in their abilities both to cope with general challenges and to withstand distress, potentially helping them engage with exposures and overcome initial fears. These findings provide support for the inhibitory learning model and highlight the mechanistic roles of self-efficacy and distress tolerance in ERP. Clinical implications to target both in treatment are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjia Xu
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Institute, McLean Hospital, United States of America
| | - Martha J Falkenstein
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Institute, McLean Hospital, United States of America; Harvard Medical School, United States of America
| | - Jennie M Kuckertz
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Institute, McLean Hospital, United States of America; Harvard Medical School, United States of America.
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Matt LM, Seah THS, Coifman KG. Effects of a brief online emotion word learning task on negative emotion differentiation, emotional self-efficacy, and prospective distress: Preliminary findings. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0299540. [PMID: 38416746 PMCID: PMC10901351 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Disruptions in emotion processing are common across psychological disorders. Research suggests that emotion differentiation (ED; specificity in language used to characterize one's emotional experience) and emotional self-efficacy (ESE; perceived ability to understand and manage one's emotions) are important transdiagnostic factors associated with various psychological benefits. Whether ED and ESE can be improved in adults remains largely unclear. METHODS Using a longitudinal prospective design, we tested a brief online training targeting emotion word knowledge (vs. a control condition) to see if it improved negative ED (NED) and ESE in a college sample. Moreover, we tested if changes in NED or ESE mediated the effects of the training on levels of psychological distress one week and two-months post-intervention. RESULTS Findings provided partial support for our hypotheses. Individuals whose ESE increased post-intervention reported lower levels of distress two months later. Moreover, exploratory analyses revealed those who demonstrated greater training engagement experienced increases in NED that in turn predicted lower distress one-week post-intervention. However, there were no direct effects of intervention group on NED or ESE and distress. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight the potential of a remotely-administered emotion-language intervention to influence key dimensions of emotion processing and suggest avenues for further refinement. Both NED and ESE may be malleable for some, and that enhancements in ESE may produce long-term psychological benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey M. Matt
- Lyra Health, Burlingame, California, United States of America
| | - T. H. Stanley Seah
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Karin G. Coifman
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, United States of America
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Hoogerwerf E, Greeven A, Goekoop R, Spinhoven P. Personalized exposure and experience sampling method feedback versus exposure as usual for obsessive-compulsive disorder: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials 2024; 25:43. [PMID: 38217045 PMCID: PMC10785525 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-023-07780-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) suffer from repetitive fearful intrusions which they try to neutralize by performing compulsions. OCD is considered to be the most resistant anxiety disorder with a remission rate of only 53% after a year of an evidence-based treatment. Therefore, it remains an obligation to develop and investigate more effective treatment interventions. This study aims to compare personalized exposure with response prevention (ERP) using experience sampling methodology-based feedback to ERP as usual in patients with OCD. Personalized exposure will be provided screen-to-screen in an ecologically valid (real time and real place) context by means of a smartphone application. This app will also be used to collect both objective and subjective data by means of experience sampling methodology (ESM). This ESM data will be used to identify triggers and protective factors for symptom severity, provide personalized feedback and optimize the effect of ERP. The primary goal of this RCT is to compare the effectiveness of personalized ERP to ERP as usual in the traditional context of a therapist's room in patients with OCD in OCD symptom severity, as well as differences in quality of life, depressive symptoms and anxiety states. Since both self-efficacy and experiential avoidance are known to influence symptom severity in OCS, a secondary goal is to examine if a possible treatment effect is mediated by self-efficacy or experiential avoidance. METHODS This study involves a randomized controlled trial with 20 weekly sessions by 2 groups (ERP as usual versus personalized ERP), repeated measurements at baseline (T0), 5 weeks of treatment (T1), 10 weeks of treatment (T2), 15 weeks of treatment (T3), posttest at 20 weeks (T4), 6 weeks follow-up (T5), 3 months follow-up (T6), 6 months follow-up (T7) and a year follow-up (T8). A hundred and sixty patients with an OCD diagnosis according to DSM-5 criteria will participate. Half of the group will receive exposure with response prevention as usual, the other half will receive personalized exposure with response prevention with a smartphone application and personalized feedback sessions based on experience sampling data. Multilevel mixed modelling analysis will be used to investigate differences in treatment effect, as well as differences in quality of life, depressive symptoms and anxiety states. We will use the macro of Preacher and Hayes and apply bootstrapping methods to assess the possible mediating effect of changes in self-efficacy and experiential avoidance on subsequent treatment effects. DISCUSSION This randomized controlled trial is the first to assess the influence of delivering ERP through video-calling and the use of an ESM intervention on the symptom severity of OCD. Since the global pandemic COVID-19, the use of video-calling to deliver psychological treatments has become more common, increasing the relevance of this study. TRIAL REGISTRATION ICTRP Trial NL8254. Registered on 2019-12-24.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Hoogerwerf
- Parnassia Groep Academie, Dadelplein 1, 2552DS, The Hague, The Netherlands.
- Institute of Psychology, Section of Clinical Psychology, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Anja Greeven
- Parnassia Groep Academie, Dadelplein 1, 2552DS, The Hague, The Netherlands
| | - Rutger Goekoop
- Parnassia Groep Academie, Dadelplein 1, 2552DS, The Hague, The Netherlands
| | - Philip Spinhoven
- Institute of Psychology, Section of Clinical Psychology, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, Leiden, the Netherlands
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Miegel FS, Schröder J, Schultz J, Müller JC, Jelinek L. Expected increase in health competence improves over modules of an unguided internet-based cognitive-behavioural therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 58:443-448. [PMID: 37287126 DOI: 10.1002/ijop.12919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Internet-based cognitive-behavioural interventions (iCBT) are a valuable alternative to face-to-face psychotherapy. An unguided iCBT program has shown to be efficacious for patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, the modules' mode of action is not well understood, which is the objective of the present study. Twenty-five patients with OCD who participated at the iCBT program for 8 weeks answered a questionnaire on their self-efficacy, motivation, expected increase in health competence and experiential avoidance before and after each module and were included in the present analyses. Linear mixed-effects models demonstrated that patients' expected increase in health competence improved over the course of the treatment. No within-module-specific effect was found. The iCBT program was able to improve patients' expected health competence. However, all other variables did not change. The iCBT program should be revised by focusing more strongly on the integration of the content to reduce experiential avoidance and to improve motivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Sophia Miegel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Johanna Schröder
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Institute for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Josephine Schultz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jana Christina Müller
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lena Jelinek
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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Lisi DM, Hawley LL, McCabe RE, Rowa K, Cameron DH, Richter MA, Rector NA. Online versus in-person delivery of cognitive behaviour therapy for obsessive compulsive disorder: An examination of effectiveness. Clin Psychol Psychother 2023. [PMID: 37699581 DOI: 10.1002/cpp.2908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) including exposure and response prevention is the first-line psychological treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Given changes in the clinical landscape, there are increasing efforts to evaluate its effectiveness in online contexts. Mirroring the traditional in-person delivery, few studies have assessed the role of therapist-guided, manual-based CBT for OCD delivered in real-time via videoconferencing methods. The present study sought to fill this gap by comparing in-person and online delivery of group-based CBT for the treatment of OCD. A convenience sample of participants with moderate to severe OCD (n = 144) were recruited from a naturalistic database from two large OCD specialty assessment and treatment centres. Patients received group-based CBT that was provided in-person (pre-COVID-19 pandemic; March 2018 to March 2020) or online via videoconferencing (during the COVID-19 pandemic; March 2020 to April 2021). In both delivery methods, treatment consisted of 2-h weekly sessions led by trained clinicians. Analyses revealed that, regardless of treatment modality, both in-person and online groups demonstrated significant, reliable, and statistically equivalent improvements in OCD symptoms post-treatment. Videoconferenced, clinician-led CBT may be a promising alternative to in-person delivery for those with moderate to severe OCD symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana M Lisi
- Frederick W. Thompson Anxiety Disorders Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lance L Hawley
- Frederick W. Thompson Anxiety Disorders Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Randi E McCabe
- Anxiety Treatment and Research Clinic, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Karen Rowa
- Anxiety Treatment and Research Clinic, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Duncan H Cameron
- Anxiety Treatment and Research Clinic, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Margaret A Richter
- Frederick W. Thompson Anxiety Disorders Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Neil A Rector
- Frederick W. Thompson Anxiety Disorders Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Elsner B, Jacobi T, Kischkel E, Schulze D, Reuter B. Mechanisms of exposure and response prevention in obsessive-compulsive disorder: effects of habituation and expectancy violation on short-term outcome in cognitive behavioral therapy. BMC Psychiatry 2022; 22:66. [PMID: 35086513 PMCID: PMC8793233 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-022-03701-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure and response prevention is effective and recommended as the first choice for treating obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD). Its mechanisms of action are rarely studied, but two major theories make distinct assumptions: while the emotional processing theory assumes that treatment effects are associated with habituation within and between exposure sessions, the inhibitory learning approach highlights the acquisition of additional associations, implying alternative mechanisms like expectancy violation. The present study aimed to investigate whether process variables derived from both theories predict short-term outcome. METHOD In a university outpatient unit, 110 patients (63 female) with OCD received manual-based cognitive-behavioral therapy with high standardization of the first two exposure sessions. Specifically, therapists repeated the first exposure session identically and assessed subjective units of distress as well as expectancy ratings in the course of exposure sessions. Based on these data, individual scores for habituation and distress-related expectancy violation were calculated and used for prediction of both percentage change on the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) and remission status after 20 therapy sessions. RESULTS In a multiple regression model for percentage change, within-session habituation during the first exposure was a significant predictor, while in a logistic regression predicting remission status, distress-related expectancy violation during the first exposure revealed significance. A path model further supported these findings. CONCLUSIONS The results represent first evidence for distress-related expectancy violation and confirm preliminary findings for habituation, suggesting that both processes contribute to treatment benefits of exposure in OCD, and both mechanisms appear to be independent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Björn Elsner
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Rudower Chaussee 18, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Tanja Jacobi
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Rudower Chaussee 18, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Eva Kischkel
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Rudower Chaussee 18, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Daniel Schulze
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Rudower Chaussee 18, 12489 Berlin, Germany
- Department of Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, Habelschwerdter Allee 45, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Benedikt Reuter
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Rudower Chaussee 18, 12489 Berlin, Germany
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Effectiveness and feasibility of intensive versus regular cognitive behaviour therapy in patients with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders: A meta-analysis. JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS REPORTS 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jadr.2021.100267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This article describes the phenomenology and clinical presentation of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a common but underdiagnosed psychiatric disorder. Guidance for effectively identifying obsessive-compulsive symptoms is provided, and treatment options, including psychotherapy, pharmacologic management, and neuromodulation approaches for treatment-resistant OCD, are discussed. RECENT FINDINGS OCD affects 2% to 3% of adults worldwide and is associated with substantial individual disability and societal costs. Lack of recognition of common OCD symptom types, in addition to shame and fear of stigma on the part of patients, has created an average delay in diagnosis by almost 10 years and a delay in effective treatment (ie, a treatment gap) of nearly 2 years. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), specifically a form of CBT that includes a type of behavioral intervention called exposure and response prevention, remains the most effective form of treatment for OCD. If CBT is not effective or not available, pharmacologic treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or clomipramine, a nonselective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, can also be of benefit. Neuromodulation approaches such as deep brain stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation are rapidly emerging as effective treatments for OCD, particularly for patients who have not experienced an adequate response to psychotherapy or pharmacologic management. SUMMARY OCD affects more than one in every 50 adults in the United States but is recognized and adequately treated in fewer than half of those affected. Early intervention and appropriate treatment can substantially reduce OCD symptom severity, improve quality of life, and minimize the functional disability associated with this chronic and often debilitating illness.
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Wong SF, Krause S, Marishel D, Grisham JR. Reappraisal of disgust: Self-report and behavioural assessment of individuals with moderate to high contamination fears. J Anxiety Disord 2021; 78:102346. [PMID: 33395602 DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2020.102346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Previous research has linked certain psychological disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), to the experience of disgust and how it is interpreted/appraised. Therefore, the present study examined whether targeting primary and secondary disgust appraisals (i.e., cognitive reappraisal) in individuals with moderate to high OCD-relevant contamination fears can effectively reduce disgust. Fifty-two participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions; two of which involved reading a brief script modifying either a primary disgust appraisal (i.e., likelihood of a feared outcome) or a secondary disgust appraisal (i.e., the individual's ability to cope), and a third control condition with no reappraisal script. Following this experimental manipulation of disgust appraisal, participants completed two contamination-relevant behavioural approach tasks which involved 1) increasing proximity to, and eventually touching, a dead cockroach, and 2) drinking apple juice from an unused urine sample collection container. Results indicated that the interventions successfully modified their intended appraisal targets. Furthermore, on the second behavioural approach task, the secondary reappraisal condition demonstrated significantly less disgust-related avoidance relative to the control condition and reported significantly less disgust relative to the primary reappraisal condition. Our results incrementally add to the existing literature that emphasises the potential advantages of modifying disgust appraisals and specifically secondary disgust appraisals when treating disgust-based psychological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiu F Wong
- Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Canada.
| | - Sandra Krause
- Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Canada
| | - David Marishel
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Australia
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