Exploring experiences of online group CBT for OCD
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Internet-based group cognitive behavior therapy for individuals with obsessive compulsive disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic; staff and service users' perspectives
IRAS ID
319443
Contact name
Frances Apps
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Canterbury Christ Church University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 0 days
Research summary
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder where an individual experiences obsessive, intrusive thoughts (unwanted, spontaneous thoughts) and compulsive rituals. The cognitive model for OCD summarises that individuals experience distress with these intrusive thoughts and the compulsive rituals are a maladaptive strategy to reduce this distress. The recommended treatment for OCD is exposure response prevention (ERP) with cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) (National Institute for Clinical Excellence). ERP involves triggering the intrusive thoughts but not carrying out the compulsive behaviours, with the aim being that individuals learn the compulsive rituals are not contributing to reducing the distress This can be anxiety provoking, as individuals believe the compulsive rituals are what keeps them “safe”.
Engaging in therapy involves active participation within and outside of therapy sessions (such as carrying out homework tasks) and is influenced by the therapeutic relationship. Barriers to engagement in CBT with ERP can relate to the ERP tasks being anxiety provoking (Pence et al., 2010). During the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of mental health services in the UK offered therapy online to comply with government guidelines. Healthcare professionals have voiced concerns around establishing a therapeutic relationship in online therapy (Rathenau et al., 2021). Considering the anxieties associated with ERP and the concerns with establishing a therapeutic relationship online, we aim to explore the facilitators and barriers to engagement with online group CBT for OCD. To do this, we will interview service users who took part in an online group CBT intervention for OCD. The CBT therapists who facilitated this intervention will also be interviewed.
This study will use a framework analysis method, which uses an agreed upon classification for “engagement”. Our results can be used to inform future online group CBT interventions for OCD.REC name
East of England - Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/EE/0161
Date of REC Opinion
25 Aug 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion