A psycholinguistic investigation of biased semantic networks in contamination-related obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Background And Objectives: Increasing evidence confirms the significant involvement of disgust in contamination-related obsessive-compulsive disorder (C-OCD). More insights into the role of disgust within cognitive biases in OCD may illuminate the psychopathology and corresponding subdimensions or subtypes. The present study introduces a new approach adopted from psycholinguistic research to investigate biases in word association networks in C-OCD versus other OCD symptom dimensions (nC-OCD).

Enhancing Insight in Patients With Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Case Study on Avatar Therapy Using Virtual Reality.

Treatment efficacy for patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) with poor insight is low. Insight refers to a patient's ability to recognize that their obsessions are irrational and that their compulsions are futile attempts to reduce anxiety. This case study presents the first application of virtual reality-assisted avatar therapy for OCD (VRT-OCD) in a patient with contamination OCD and ambivalent insight.

Digital nature: Unveiling the impact and safety of FlowVR group intervention for depression in a feasibility trial.

Objective: This study addresses the limitations of existing interventions for depression, such as a deficit-oriented focus, overlooking the utilization of positive elements such as nature, and neglecting the incorporation of group effects. The present feasibility study examines FlowVR, a resource-oriented, nature-inspired virtual reality (VR)-based group therapy. Previously tested individually in a pilot study for non-clinical participants, FlowVR has demonstrated positive effects on depressive symptoms.

Mediation analyses of longitudinal data investigating temporal associations between inflated sense of responsibility, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and anger suppression.

Objective: Cognitive theories emphasize the central role of anger and anger suppression in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). According to these theories, anger suppression is seen as a consequence of OCD, whereas cognitive beliefs, such as an inflated sense of responsibility, are seen as antecedent factors. To extend the findings from cross-sectional studies, the current study investigated the temporal associations between OCD symptoms, an inflated sense of responsibility, and anger suppression.

Too much of a good thing? Hand hygiene and the long-term course of contamination-related obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

Increased hygiene behavior may be a factor in the development of contamination-related obsessive-compulsive symptoms (C-OCS). We aimed at investigating (1) the course of C-OCS over 1 year after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and (2) the effects of changes in hand hygiene (i.e.

Implicit aggressive self-concept in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder: Results from an approach-avoidance task.

Background And Objectives: Patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have reported higher anger and aggression than healthy individuals in previous studies using explicit measures. However, studies using implicit measures have demonstrated mixed results. The aim of the present study was to investigate implicit aggressiveness in OCD using an approach-avoidance task (AAT).

Obsessive-Compulsive Symptom Dimensions and Their Relationships with Obsessive Beliefs: A Structural Equation Modeling Analysis.

Dysfunctional beliefs are central in the development and maintenance of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) as well as its treatment. Yet, research suggests that not all dysfunctional beliefs are equally important for each of the symptom dimensions of OCD. However, results are inconsistent in that studies contradict each other regarding the associations between specific symptom dimensions and belief domains.

Improving adherence to unguided Internet-based therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Adherence to internet-based cognitive-behavioral therapy (iCBT) is often low, possibly reducing its potential. The current study set out to test whether adherence and effects of unguided iCBT for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) could be improved by varying the degree of autonomy in which modules are completed (free choice vs. fixed order).

Mixed results for exposure and response prevention therapy in mixed reality for patients with contamination-related obsessive-compulsive disorder: A randomized controlled pilot study.

Introduction: Technology-supported exposure and response prevention (ERP) for patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) as tested in clinical research, holds promise but also has limitations. The present study aims to overcome these limitations by using mixed reality for ERP (MERP). The objectives of this pilot study were to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and acceptance of MERP and to identify possible obstacles.

How to assess and analyse session-specific effects and predictors: An example with the Metacognitive Training for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder intervention.

It is essential to understand the effects of specific therapy elements (i.e., mechanisms of change) to optimize the efficacy of available treatments.

Exploring mechanisms of change in the metacognitive training for depression.

The Metacognitive Training for Depression (D-MCT) is a highly structured group therapy that has been shown to be effective in reducing depressive symptoms. First evidence suggests that need for control represents a mechanism of change. However, more research is needed to evaluate the mode of action of each module and identify predictors of treatment response.

Efficacy of exposure and response prevention therapy in mixed reality for patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Many patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) do not receive cognitive behavioral therapy with exposure and response prevention (first line treatment for OCD), for example, due to patients' fear of the exposure and reservations of the therapists. Technology-supported exposure (e.g.

Exposure and Response Prevention in Virtual Reality for Patients with Contamination-Related Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: a Case Series.

Exposure therapy in virtual reality is successful in treating anxiety disorders. Studies on exposure and response prevention in virtual reality (VERP) in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are rare, and it is unclear whether distress associated with other emotions than anxiety (e.g.

Unrealistic pessimism and obsessive-compulsive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: Two longitudinal studies.

Objective: Unrealistic pessimism (UP) is an aspect of overestimation of threat (OET) that has been associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder/symptoms (OCD/OCS). During the COVID-19 pandemic, UP may have played an important role in the course of OCD. To investigate the relationship, we conducted two longitudinal studies assuming that higher UP predicts an increase in OCS.

Therapists' Thought-Action Fusion Beliefs Predict Utilization of Exposure in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

Although exposure and response prevention (ERP) is considered the gold standard for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), it is rarely used in clinical practice. Therapists' beliefs about ERP affect its utilization, as previous research suggests, but the role of therapists' cognitive biases is unclear. In particular, susceptibility to thought-action fusion (TAF) may be related to the underutilization of ERP in OCD.

When a nightmare comes true: Change in obsessive-compulsive disorder over the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has particularly affected people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Exacerbation of obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) has been suspected for those with contamination-related OCD (C-OCD). However, the course of OCS over the ongoing pandemic remains unclear.

Predictors of trajectories of obsessive-compulsive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic in the general population in Germany.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with an increase in obsessive-compulsive disorder/symptoms (OCD/OCS). However, knowledge is limited regarding the trajectories of OCS during the pandemic, as well as their predictors and mechanisms (e.g.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder during COVID-19: Turning a problem into an opportunity?

The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted global measures to prevent infection. Experts assume that it is particularly affecting people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), especially those with washing compulsions. Data, however, are currently lacking.

Session-specific effects of the Metacognitive Group Training for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: significant results for thought control.

The investigation of the session-specific effects is central for the understanding of psychological interventions. For the present study, we investigated the session-specific effects of the Metacognitive Group Training for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (MCT-OCD), which was revised based on data of a pilot study. Thirty-four outpatients with OCD participated in the MCT-OCD once a week over 8 weeks.

Feasibility, Acceptance, and Safety of Metacognitive Training for Problem and Pathological Gamblers (Gambling-MCT): A Pilot Study.

Approximately 90% of problem and pathological gamblers remain untreated. This treatment gap may be diminished by the implementation of low-threshold treatment programs. As cognitive distortions play a crucial role in the development and maintenance of gambling problems, interventions targeting gambling-related biases may be particularly effective.

Metacognitive Training for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: A high number of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) do not receive cognitive-behavioral therapy with exposure and response prevention, which is the most effective treatment for OCD. Therefore, Metacognitive Training for OCD (MCT-OCD) was developed, which is a structured group therapy aiming at the modification of dysfunctional (meta-)cognitive biases, beliefs and coping styles. It can be administered by less trained personnel, thus may reach a higher number of patients.

Session-specific effects of the Metacognitive Training for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (MCT-OCD).

Most studies focus on overall treatment effects by assessing symptom severity before and after treatment, but few investigate session-specific effects of an intervention. The aim of the present study was to elucidate session-specific effects of a group therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) that targets cognitive biases known as the Metacognitive Training for OCD (MCT-OCD). In an uncontrolled pilot trial, 44 inpatients with OCD participated in the MCT-OCD once a week over four weeks.