Interpretation Bias as a Mechanism of Treatment Response in OCD

Interpretation Bias as a Mechanism of Treatment Response in OCD

This study will conduct a randomized controlled trial of Cognitive Bias Modification for Interpretation (CBM-I) as an augmentation to treatment as usual for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). CBM-I is a digital intervention designed to directly manipulate interpretation bias through repeated practice on a training task, thereby inducing cognitive changes in a relatively automatic or implicit manner. Specifically, this study will examine the feasibility, acceptability, and clinical outcomes associated with CBM-I.

Adults with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) will be recruited from a treatment program for this disorder and participants will be randomly assigned to either receive: 1) up to 12 sessions of CBM-I, or or up to 12 sessions of psychoeducation as a control condition.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 1) OCD Institute patients
• 2) adults (> 18 years old)
• 3) able to complete a computer task for 20 minutes
• 4) consent to main OCD Institute study protocol
• 5) primary diagnosis of OCD (as measured by a score of >16 on the Y-BOCS and a clinical diagnosis of OCD by their treatment team
• 6) score of >131 on the Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire-44 at admission [which is 1 SD above the mean score of the non-clinical sample reported in the original validation paper by the Obsessive Compulsive Cognitions Working Group (2005)]

Exclusion Criteria:

• 1) Currently experiencing acute symptoms of psychosis
• 2) Psychotic disorder diagnosis