Pilot Study of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Plus Improv Group Therapy for OCD
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- Stanford University
- Enrollment
- 7
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Change in the severity of OCD symptoms as measured by the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS)
Study Overview
Brief Summary
The goal of this study is to pilot test a novel group therapy intervention for adults with OCD.
Detailed Description
The intervention will incorporate exposure and response prevention (ERP) with improvisational comedy ("improv") activities. ERP is the gold-standard treatment for OCD. Improv comedy is a type of theater in which actors perform without a script. This study aims to evaluate whether the intervention is helpful for reducing OCD symptoms and intolerance of uncertainty (a mechanism maintaining OCD). It will also explore whether the intervention is feasible and acceptable.
During the group therapy sessions, participants will engage with improv comedy exercises that have been adapted to function as exposures for different types of OCD. Participants will:
- attend an ERP + improv group therapy intervention (90-minute sessions for 12 weeks)
- complete homework in-between sessions
- answer questions
- complete questionnaires.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Na
- Intervention Model
- Single Group
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to — (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria
- •At least 18 years of age
- •Ability to speak and understand English
- •Clinical diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Exclusion Criteria
- •Current active suicidality
- •Medical or psychiatric illness that could interfere with study participation
Arms & Interventions
ERP combined with Improv Group Therapy
Participants will attend 90-minute ERP + improv group therapy sessions for 12 consecutive weeks. They will also complete homework between sessions, answer questions, and complete questionnaires.
Intervention: Group Improv sessions (Other)
ERP combined with Improv Group Therapy
Participants will attend 90-minute ERP + improv group therapy sessions for 12 consecutive weeks. They will also complete homework between sessions, answer questions, and complete questionnaires.
Intervention: Group Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) Therapy (Behavioral)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Change in the severity of OCD symptoms as measured by the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS)
Time Frame: Baseline and up to 12 weeks
Change in OCD severity is measured by the YBOCS (Yale Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale), a gold standard measure of obsessions and compulsions. For the YBOCS the minimum units are 0 and Maximum units on the total scale are 40. The higher the number on the YBOCS, the more severe the symptoms. Response is defined as at least a 35% change on the YBOCS.
Secondary Outcomes
- Change in Intolerance of Uncertainty Score(Baseline and up to 12 weeks)
Investigators
Carolyn Rodriguez
Professor
Stanford University