The effectiveness of cognitive behavioral group psychotherapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder: randomized controlled study for cultural adaptation

Abstract

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in group settings (CBTG) has proven to be an effective treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of CBGT for obsessive-compulsive disorder OCD compared to the control condition in the Turkish-speaking population with a treatment protocol that considers cultural aspects. Seventy-five participants were assigned to the intervention, and 46 were assigned to the control condition randomly. All participants were evaluated before and after the therapy with a demographic information form, Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnosis, Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsion Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Beck Depression Inventory. CBGT for OCD decreases levels of obsession, compulsion, depression, and anxiety more than control conditions with large effect sizes (d > 0.8, p <.05). This study shows the effectiveness of CBGT for OCD compared to the control condition in the Turkish-speaking population. Improvement in depression and anxiety alongside OCD symptoms is a strength of the CBGT applied.