Predictors of response to exposure and response prevention-based cognitive behavioral therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder

BMC Psychiatry. 2020 Sep 4;20(1):433. doi: 10.1186/s12888-020-02841-4.

Abstract

Background: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which includes exposure and response prevention (ERP), is effective in improving symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, whether poor cognitive functions and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) traits affect the therapeutic response of patients with OCD to ERP-based CBT remains unclear. This study aimed to identify factors predictive of the therapeutic response of Japanese patients with OCD to ERP-based CBT.

Methods: Forty-two Japanese outpatients with OCD were assessed using the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III (WAIS-III), Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item scale, and Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) at pre- and post-treatment. We used multiple regression analyses to estimate the effect on therapeutic response change. The treatment response change was set as a dependent variable in multiple regression analyses.

Results: Multiple regression analyses showed that among independent variables, communication as an AQ sub-scale and Letter Number Sequencing as a WAIS-III sub-test predict the therapeutic response to ERP-based CBT .

Conclusions: Our results suggest that diminished working memory (Letter Number Sequencing), poor communication skill (AQ sub-scale) may undermine responsiveness to ERP-based CBT among patients with OCD.

Trial registration: UMIN, UMIN00024087 . Registered 20 September 2016 - Retrospectively registered (including retrospective data).

Keywords: Cognitive behavioral therapy; Exposure and response prevention; Obsessive-compulsive disorder; Therapeutic response.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder* / therapy
  • Cognition
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy*
  • Humans
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder* / therapy
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome

Associated data

  • UMIN-CTR/UMIN000024087