BRIEF STRATEGIC THERAPY EFFECTIVENESS FOR THE TREATMENT OF OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER

Autore:

Jackson, J. B., Kee, S., Monson, C. J., & Gibson, P.

Anno:

2025

Editore:

Society for Psychotherapy Research Annual Conference, Krakow, Poland. [Paper presentation]

Collana:

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)—unwanted repetitive thoughts and behaviors—significantly impacts individuals and their family members. This study assessed the effectiveness of Brief Strategic Therapy (BST), a systemic intervention aimed at interrupting the perceptive-reactive systems that maintain OCD symptoms. A study of 60 adult clients seeking treatment for OCD at public and private outpatient clinics was conducted in Ireland. OCD and depression symptom severity were measured at the start and end of therapy using the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory-II. Results showed statistically significant decreases in both OCD and depression symptoms. Effect sizes indicated huge symptom improvements in OCD symptom severity (g = -2.60) and depression symptom severity (g = -2.81). Similarly, the results of clinical significance analysis indicated 85% of participants recovered from OCD symptoms, while 87% showed improvement or recovery in depressive symptoms. These findings highlight BST as an effective treatment option for OCD, offering meaningful symptom relief and improved mental health outcomes.