Does imagined exposure to the consequences of not ritualising enhance live exposure for OCD? A controlled study. II. Effect on behavioural v. subjective concordance of improvement.

BACKGROUND

This study tested whether adding imagined exposure to live exposure would increase the concordance between behavioural and subjective improvement in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

METHOD: 46 OCD out-patients were randomly allocated to 9 weekly sessions of either combined live+imagined exposure/ritual prevention (Exi, n = 23), or only live exposure/ritual prevention (Ex, n = 23). Patients were asked to do 90 min of daily self-exposure at home (corresponding to Exi or Ex). Measures were: (A) behavioural; (B) subjective; (C) clinical global impression (CGI).

RESULTS

After 9 weeks of treatment, improvement was greater on behavioural than subjective measures (similar for the Exi and Ex groups). At 20 weeks (3-month follow-up) each group had improved slightly more on subjective measures and slightly less on behavioural ones. Two subjective measures improved less during Exi than Ex, but this difference disappeared at follow-up. The greater difference between behavioural and subjective improvement scores in Exi than in Ex did not relate to clinical outcome at the end of treatment or follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to live exposure alone, combined imagined plus live exposure did not enhance behavioural/subjective concordance.