Evaluation of the self-help manual "doubt therapy" for people with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)

Focus of Study: 

We are clinical researchers from the University Medical Center in Hamburg (Germany). For years, we have been conducting research on psychological factors underlying anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and have developed several treatment methods ourselves. Currently we are conducting an online study examining a new promising self-help technique targeting obsessions, which is called "doubt therapy" developed by Dr. Kieron O'Connor and his colleagues at McGill University Montreal (Canada) which is rooted in a cognitive-behavioral understanding of OCD. The present study like forerunner trials we did on other self-help programs is to advance our understanding of OCD and particularly to improve the troubled situation of people afflicted with OCD. Research indicates that only a minority seeks active help (40% according to the WHO) and there are multiple barriers to treatment including money and fear of stigma. If treatment is sought, it takes around 9 years until a patient sees a specialist. Self-help can by no means substitute a standard therapy but is a first step and may alleviate some of the burden of OCD. In addition, many people with OCD do not fully recover from CBT treatment and self-help grounded in CBT may lead to further improvement.

Study participation is free of charge and anonymous.

We would appreciate if you support our study. However, please take your time to decide whether or not you wish to take part. To participate, please use the following link

http://www.unipark.de/uc/hh_uni_psych_inst_LJ/d77d/

Clearly, we would inform you about the outcome of the study later. All published information will be group data and blinded, that is, information will be published in such a way that you cannot be identified.

Purpose: 

Our aim is to improve existing treatments and to make these accessible to as many people as possible. For the present study, we would like to investigate wheter a new self-help technique called "doubt therapy" is an effective method for the treatment of obsessions by comparing a group that uses "doubt therapy" with a group that does not use "doubt therapy". The basal technique has already been confirmed in its effectiveness in a conventional treatment setting (patient and psychotherapist face to face) by Dr. Kieron O'Connor and colleagues. However, the promising results were based on the technique conducted by a psychotherapist. By taking part in the study, you will provide us with very useful information about the effectiveness of the technique as a self-help manual and you will help to improve our knowledge of treatment methods on OCD.

Intervention: 
Self-help manual "doubt therapy" vs. waitlist group
Enrollment: 
Currently enrolling
Study Start Date: 
11/22/2011
Groups: 

At random you will be allocated to one of the two conditions after you filled out the anonymous online survey on your current symptoms

http://www.unipark.de/uc/hh_uni_psych_inst_LJ/d77d/

either you are being allocated to the "treatment group" and receive the manual on "doubt therapy" or you are assigned to the "waitlist group" and receive the manual after a period of four weeks. After four weeks of the first survey, you will be invited to participate in the post survey. We kindly ask you to participate, so we can compare the treatment with the waitlist group. After participating in that post survey the waitlist group will be sent the treatment manual and both groups will get other self-help material in addition. Each participant will thus eventually receive the treatment manual free of charge. As it is an ongoing study please do not pass on the manual.

Assigned Interventions: 

What is doubt therapy? The self-help manual "doubt therapy" describes a technique that aims at reducing obsessions. Essentially, the technique illustrates the drift of thoughts into "OCD-world" and teaches techniques to prevent that. You are kindly asked to apply the technique for a period of four weeks. If you have any problems or difficulties using the technique, please do not hesitate to contact us via email (chantal.friese@uni-bremen.de). The technique "doubt therapy" was designed to improve well-being. However, there is currently no solid evidence for its effectiveness, although the basal technique has already been confirmed in its effectiveness in a conventional treatment setting. Thus, we cannot guarantee or promise that you will receive any benefits from this project. In any case, by taking part in this study you will help to improve our knowledge of OCD and treatment options.

Ages of Eligibility: 
18-65 years
Gender: 
Male as well as Female
Inclusion Criteria: 

Please take the time to read the following conditions for participation carefully:

1. To participate in the study it is necessary that you are diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

2. You are between 18 and 65 years old.

3. You should not take part in this study, if you have a bipolar disorder or a psychosis, a major neurological illness (e.g., stroke) and if you are addicted to any substance. Besides you should not take part if you have suicidal ideation and/or -tendencies.

4. If you agree to participate in the study, you will be asked to take part in a pre survey in written form via the internet - which you have to complete first - and after four weeks to take part in a similarly post survey. Both surveys will take approximately 30 minutes to complete.

5. If you agree to participate in the study, we will ask you to leave your email address so that we are able to send you the therapy manual.

6. You agree to apply the technique "doubt therapy" on your own responsibility. While we think that the technique will bring symptom relief to some participants, we cannot guarantee this. While there is no evidence that the application of the technique is harmful, we cannot exclude negative effects. A clinical trials insurance does not exist.

If you do not fulfill the above criteria or do not agree on the terms of the study, we would like you to refrain from study participation or contact us before participating (chantal.friese@uni-bremen.de).

Exclusion Criteria: 

You should not take part in this study, if you have bipolar disorder or a psychosis, a major neurological illness (e.g., stroke) and if you are addicted to any substance. Besides you should not take part if you have suicidal ideation and/or -tendencies.

Contacts: 

In case of questions please do not hesitate to contact us via email: chantal.friese@uni-bremen.de

Locations: 

University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf

Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

Clinical Neuropsychology

Martinistr. 52

20246 Hamburg (Germany)

https://www.uke.de/kliniken-institute/kliniken/psychiatrie-und-psychotherapieindex_14169.php

Investigators: 

B. Sc. Psych. Chantal Friese

Prof. Dr. Steffen Moritz

We have the approval of the ethic commitee of the German Psychological Society (DGPs: http://www.dgps.de/en/dgps/) for the study on "doubt therapy".

Can I withdraw my consent for participation? You may withdraw your consent for study participation at any time without providing any reasons. In this case, all data collected will be deleted. The withdrawal of consent for participation will not cause any disadvantage. However, we will not consider you as a participant for future studies.

Will my taking part in this study be kept confidential? In the present study only general data regarding yourself (such as age, gender and education) will be collected. Your name or phone number will not be requested. In order to inform you about the treatment allocation, to send you the treatment manual on "doubt therapy" (pdf document), to invite you to participate in the post survey and to match your data of the first survey to the post survey accurately, we, however, need an email address. Please note, that if you decide to give us a personalized email address (which includes your first and/or surname), we cannot rule out conclusions on your identity. If you do not agree, please use an email address that does not include your name, but uses a pseudonym (e.g., sunflower365@gmx.de). In case of a personalized email address, you may need to create a new email account for the purpose of the study (some email providers offer the service free of charge) or refrain from study participation. All email addresses provided are kept confidential and will not be forwarded to any third party. After the study is completed all email addresses will be deleted. All data collected will only be saved and analysed for the purpose of the present study. If you withdraw your consent for participation all data that has been collected will be deleted. If you agree to participate in this study, any information obtained will remain strictly confidential. Your data will not be stored or processed with your name or contact details. We plan to publish the results in scientific journals, however, all published information will be group data and no personal data will be disclosed. That is, information will be published in such a way that you cannot be identified. We comply with the regulations regarding data protections for the processing of personal data.