Cognitive Bias Modification for OCD

This study will conduct the development and preliminary evaluation of Cognitive Bias Modification for Interpretation (CBM-I) and Approach Avoidance Training (AAT) as augmentations to treatment as usual for OCD and related disorders. CBM-I refers to computerized interventions designed to directly manipulate interpretation bias through repeated practice on a training task, thereby inducing cognitive changes in a relatively automatic or implicit manner. In AAT, automatic approach tendencies toward feared stimuli are re-trained. Specifically, this study will examine the feasibility, acceptability, and clinical outcomes associated with CBM-I and AAT. Adults with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and related disorders will be recruited from a treatment program for these disorders and participants will be randomly assigned to either receive: 1) eight sessions of CBM-I or eight sessions of psychoeducation as a control condition, or 2) AAT or eight sessions of an inactive (sham) version of the AAT training.

Participants in this group will receive usual treatment in the program and 8 sessions of a computerized cognitive training targeting interpretation bias

Participants in this group will receive usual treatment in the program and 8 sessions of psychoeducation

Participants in this group will receive usual treatment in the program and 8 sessions of a computerized cognitive training targeting automatic approach tendencies

Participants in this group will receive usual treatment in the program and 8 sessions of a sham approach avoidance training

Eight sessions of scenario-based CBM-I training for OCD will be administered, based on the widely-used paradigm of ambiguous scenario training developed by Mathews and Mackintosh (2000), in which participants are presented with scenarios that are ambiguous in whether or not they are threatening. Participants will complete a computer task consisting of a series of written scenarios designed to improve interpretation and attributional biases; these scenarios conclude with word fragments, which participants must fill in to resolve the ambiguity.

Eight sessions of psychoeducation will be administered, which will describe symptoms of anxiety, the nature of biased thinking in anxiety, and summarize common psychosocial as well as pharmacological treatments for anxiety. The sessions will provide relevant information but will not provide training in changing thinking styles.

Eight sessions of this computerized training program will be used to train approach tendencies, following previously validated procedures (Najmi, Kuckertz, & Amir, 2010). During the training program, participants will view a series of these images and be prompted to push or pull a joystick according to prompts on the screen, instead of the content of the picture. Avoidance will be stimulated through both pushing away (images on the screen will decrease in size upon the joystick being pushed), and approach will be stimulated through pulling towards pictures (images will increase in size to simulate approach).

Eight sessions of the approach avoidance training will be administered, however the percentage of push vs pull trials will be altered in this sham version of the training.

Measure of interpretation biases, specifically: Inflated Responsibility/Overestimation of Threat, Perfectionism/Intolerance of Uncertainty, and Importance/Control of Thoughts. 44-item self-report measure, items scored 1-7 and summed; greater scores indicate greater severity.

Interviewer-rated measure of OCD symptoms. It is 19 items, with only items 1-10 scored (from 0-4). Total scores range from 0-40, with higher scores reflecting greater severity.

An interviewer-rated assessment of retrospective suicidality as well as recent suicidal ideation and behavior. Minimum total score 0, maximum total score 5, higher total scores indicate more suicidal ideation and/or behavior.

Change in Average Score on Depressive Symptom Index Suicidality Subscale. There are 4 items scored from 0-3 with greater numbers indicating greater severity.

Measure of treatment expectancy and rationale credibility in our study. The items are rated on 9-point scales, with a total score range of 3 to 27. Greater scores indicate greater expectations and perceptions of treatment credibility.

This interview will be conducted by a member of the study staff to obtain participant feedback on satisfaction and how the intervention might be improved.

Behavioral Approach Test (BAT) will be administered as a measure of OCD-related avoidance, based on previously validated procedures (Cougle et al., 2007; Amir, Kuckertz, & Najmi, 2013). Participants rate peak anxiety 0-100 for each step of approaching feared stimuli. Three different types of BAT will be implemented in order to measure avoidance with multiple types of contaminants, each with six steps on a hierarchy to be completed sequentially, providing a rating of anxiety 0-100 for each step.

(DOCS; Abramowitz et al., 2010) participants with contamination fears will be identified by their DOCS contamination subscale score; the DOCS is part of the admission measures in the OCD Institute's main study protocol. Additionally, we will examine these scores as an outcome measure for contamination-related obsessions and compulsions. It includes 20 items and is rated 0-4.

Inclusion Criteria: Currently receiving treatment at the McLean Hospital OCD Institute For CBM-I condition only: report a score of at least 131 on the Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire-44 upon admission to the OCD Institute For AAT condition only: endorse score of at least 7 on the DOCS subscale #1 (contamination subscale) upon admission to the OCD Institute Able to complete a computer task for 20 minutes Consent to main OCD Institute study protocol Exclusion Criteria: Currently undergoing electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) Current symptoms of acute mania or psychosis A reported diagnosis at admission of a psychotic disorder History of traumatic brain injury