Comparative Efficacy of Metacognitive therapy versus Cognitive-Behavior therapy on reducing the symptoms of washing compulsions, anxiety and depression

Background: Due to the complex nature and varied symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder, different treatments can be used. Objective: The aim of present study was to compare the efficacy of cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) and meta-cognitive therapy (MCT) on reducing the symptoms of washing compulsions, anxiety and depression. Method: To do so, 6 women with OCD (pure washing), were selected based on the structured clinical interview for DSM-IV (SCID), and were assigned randomly to CBT or MCT group. In each group, patients received the relevant therapies in 12 one-hour sessions. Research tools included Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (OCI-R) that were completed by patients in pretest, posttest, follow up 1 and follow up 2. Finally, data was analyzed both individually and in group. In individual analysis, we used diagrams, visual analysis and calculating the effect size, while in group analysis, the analysis of variance with one between group factor (two group of therapies) and one within group factor (time of tests) was used. Result: The results indicated that CBT was more effective than MCT in reducing washing compulsions symptoms. However, MCT was more effective than CBT in reducing anxiety and depression. Conclusion: Considering these results, it can be suggested that MCT is more appropriate that the CBT for refractory patients. However, definitive conclusion about the efficacy of these therapies requires more studies.