Association splitting of the sexual orientation-OCD-relevant semantic network

Best practices for CBT treatment of taboo and unacceptable thoughts in OCD

Although general cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can help alleviate distress associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), strategies tailored to targeting specific cognitions, feelings, and behaviours associated with OCD such as exposure and ritual prevention (Ex/RP) and cognitive therapy (CT) have been shown to be a significantly more effective form of treatment. Treatment of individuals with unacceptable/taboo obsessions requires its own specific guidelines due to the stigmatizing and often misunderstood nature of accompanying thoughts and behaviours. In this article, OCD expert practitioners describe best practices surrounding two of the longest standing evidence-based treatment paradigms for OCD, CT and Ex/RP, tailored specifically to unacceptable and taboo obsessions, so that clients may experience the best possible outcomes that are sustained once treatment ends. In addition, CT specifically targets obsessions while Ex/RP addresses compulsions, allowing the two to be highly effective when combined together. A wide range of clinical recommendations on clinical competencies is offered, including essential knowledge, psychoeducation, designing fear hierarchies and exposures, instructing the client through behavioural experiments, and relapse prevention skills.

Key learning aims

(1)

Functional interventions as augmentation strategies for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): scoping review and expert survey from the international college of obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders (ICOCS)

BACKGROUND

Patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) commonly exhibit a range of functional difficulties, presumed linked to neurocognitive changes. Evidence-based first-line treatments have limited effect on improving these cognitive-functional problems. Candidate interventions could be used to augment evidence-based treatments by the multi-professional mental health team.

METHODS

A scoping review was performed to identify any intervention with at least one peer-reviewed report of clinical improvement in any of the 13 functional domains of the Cognitive Assessment Instrument of Obsessions and Compulsions (CAIOC-13). Next, an online survey of experts of the International College of Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders was conducted.

RESULTS

Forty-four studies were identified reporting a positive outcome for 27 different kinds of intervention. Twenty-six experts from 12 different countries, including at least one expert from each continent, completed the opinion survey. Five interventions were identified as 'highly promising', none of which was moderated by rater-related factors, suggesting global applicability.

CONCLUSION

Patients with OCD may benefit from a detailed functional assessment, to identify areas of unmet need. A variety of interventions show theoretical promise for treating the complex functional difficulties in OCD as adjuncts to first-line treatments, but the published evidence is weak. Randomised controlled trials are needed to determine the clinical effectiveness of these interventions.HighlightsFunctional-cognitive problems are common in patients with OCD.First-line evidence-based treatments have limited effect on these functionalcognitive difficulties.In our scoping review we found 44 studies reporting of improved clinical outcomes in any of the 13 functional domains of the Cognitive Assessment Instrument of Obsessions and Compulsions (CAIOC-13).An online survey of experts of the International College of Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders (ICOCS) was conducted and identified five interventions as "highly promising" candidate treatments for functional-cognitive problems in OCD.Randomised controlled trials are needed to determine the clinical effectiveness of these interventions.

Boosting exposure and response prevention with imagery-based techniques: a case study tackling sexual obsessions in an adolescent

Sexual obsessions are common in adolescents with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), but how to address these obsessions in a developmentally sensitive manner remains under-explored. This report presents the case of an adolescent who experienced unwanted sexual imagery, undergoing conventional exposure and response prevention, which was subsequently augmented with imagery-based techniques. This approach was associated with remission in symptoms of OCD and marked improvements in symptoms of anxiety and depression. The imagery-based approach was well received and valued as key to treatment success by the adolescent. This raises the tantalising possibility that working directly with images can fuel treatment innovation in tackling sexual (and non-sexual) obsessions in youth OCD.

Key learning aims

(1)

The Metacognitive Training for obsessive-compulsive disorder: A pilot study

More than 50% of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) do not receive first-line psychological treatment such as cognitive-behavioral therapy with exposure and response prevention. To narrow this treatment gap, there is an urgent need for therapies that are easy to disseminate and highly accepted by patients. The aim of the present pilot study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Metacognitive Group Training for OCD (MCT-OCD). Fifty patients with OCD participated in the MCT-OCD for 4 weeks during their inpatient stay in a single-arm pilot trial. Patients were assessed before and after the intervention and filled out an online survey 6 months after post assessment. Results showed a decrease in obsessive compulsive symptoms according to the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (primary outcome) from baseline to post assessment with a large effect size. Symptom reduction remained stable over 6 months and was positively correlated with appraisal ratings of the training. The reduction in frequency of obsessive compulsive symptoms, distress due to obsessive compulsive symptoms, cognitive biases, and depressive symptoms remained stable over 6 months after the intervention. Our findings tentatively imply that the MCT-OCD is a promising treatment for OCD patients. A randomized controlled trial is thus warranted to further clarify the efficacy of the MCT-OCD. Trial Registration: German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS-ID: DRKS00012531), date of registration: 16.06.2017.

Metacognitive Training for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

A high number of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) do not receive cognitive-behavioral therapy with exposure and response prevention, which is the most effective treatment for OCD. Therefore, Metacognitive Training for OCD (MCT-OCD) was developed, which is a structured group therapy aiming at the modification of dysfunctional (meta-)cognitive biases, beliefs and coping styles. It can be administered by less trained personnel, thus may reach a higher number of patients. An uncontrolled pilot study (MCT-OCD pilot version) provided first evidence that the training is highly accepted by patients; OC symptoms decreased with a high effect size (η2partial = 0.50). The aim of the present study is to address the shortcomings of the pilot study (e.g., no control group) and to assess the efficacy of the revised version of the MCT-OCD in the framework of a randomized controlled trial.

METHODS

Eighty patients with OCD will be recruited. After a blinded assessment at baseline (-t1), patients will be randomly assigned either to the intervention group (MCT-OCD; n = 40) or to a care as usual control group (n = 40). The MCT-OCD aims to enhance patients' metacognitive competence in eight modules by addressing dysfunctional (meta-)cognitive biases and beliefs associated with OCD (e.g., intolerance of uncertainty). After 8 weeks, patients will be invited to a post assessment (t1), and then they will receive a follow-up online questionnaire 3 months following t1 (t2). The primary outcome is the Y-BOCS total score, and the secondary outcomes include the HDRS, OCI-R, OBQ-44, MCQ-30, WHOQOL-BREF, BDI-II, and subjective appraisal ratings of the MCT-OCD. We expect that OC symptoms will decrease more in the intervention group compared with the care as usual control group from -t1 to t1 and that treatment gains will be maintained until t2.

DISCUSSION

The planned study is the first to investigate the MCT-OCD, a promising new treatment, in a randomized controlled trial. The MCT-OCD may help to overcome existing treatment barriers for patients with OCD.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

German Registry for Clinical Studies ( DRKS00013539 ), 22.02.2018.

The Internalization of Social Stigma Among Minor-Attracted Persons: Implications for Treatment

In this article, we sought to build on existing stigmatization research by examining the extent to which internalized stigmatization (i.e., the personal adoption and incorporation of social views, operationalized as thought suppression-an avoidant coping strategy-and low psychological well-being) among minor-attracted persons (MAPs) may impact upon help-seeking behaviors and their avoidance of children. We adopted a cross-sectional anonymous survey design to recruit a sample of self-identified MAPs (N = 183) from prominent online support fora. We found that increased levels of suppression and lower levels of psychological well-being were associated with lower levels of hope about the future, but higher levels of both shame and guilt about having a sexual interest in minors. Thought suppression was not significantly associated with outcomes related to help-seeking behaviors, but did significantly predict higher rates of actively avoiding children, even after controlling for psychological well-being and other emotional variables. Independently, lower levels of self-reported psychological well-being were associated with a desire for more support and higher rates of actively avoiding children. We explore the potential implications of our data in relation to treating and supporting MAPs within the community, increasing their well-being, and encouraging help-seeking behavior.

Association Splitting for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Systematic Review

Background:

Association splitting is a cognitive technique that targets obsessions in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) by weakening biased semantic associations among OCDrelevant concepts.

Objective:

In this systematic review, we examine studies on the efficacy of association splitting for reducing OCD symptoms.

Methods:

Following PRISMA guidelines, six studies were included, with diversity in sample characteristics, mode of administration (i.e., self-help vs therapist-assisted), language of administration, comparator groups, etc.

Results:

Results indicated that association splitting, as a self-help intervention, was efficacious in reducing overall OCD symptom severity, specific OCD symptoms (i.e., sexual obsessions), subclinical unwanted intrusions, and thought suppression, with small-to-large effect sizes (e.g., across relevant studies, ds = .28-1.07). Findings were less clear when association splitting was administered on a therapist-assisted basis as an add-on to standard cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT). Nonetheless, across studies, the majority of participants reported high acceptability, ease of comprehension, and adherence to daily association splitting practice.

Conclusion:

Although association splitting is an efficacious and acceptable self-help intervention for OCD symptoms, future studies should include appropriate comparison groups, conduct longitudinal assessments, examine efficacy for different symptom dimensions, and assess changes in semantic networks as proof of mechanistic change. There should also be greater representation of marginalized groups in future studies to assess association splitting’s utility in circumventing barriers to face-to-face CBT. Ethical considerations are also discussed.