title: Cognitive-behavioral group therapy in obsessive-compulsive disorder: a randomized clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study was designed to verify the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral group therapy (CBGT) in reducing obsessive-compulsive symptoms and the intensity of overvalued ideas, as well as in improving the patient's quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-seven patients meeting DSM-IV criteria for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) were randomly assigned to either 12 weekly CBGT sessions or a waiting list (control group). Treated patients were followed for three months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant reduction in the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (p < 0.001), in the National Institute of Mental Health Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (p < 0.001), in the Overvalued Ideas Scale (p < 0.001), and a significant improvement in the quality of life in the four domains of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Scale: physical (p < 0.001), psychological (p < 0.017), social (p < 0.018) and environmental (p < 0.04). No significant reduction was found in the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (p = 0.111) and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (p = 0.271). The concomitant use of anti-obsessional medications did not influence the results. The rate of improved patients was 69.6% in the treated group and 4.2% in the control group (p < 0.001). The therapeutic gains were maintained and an additional reduction in symptoms was observed during the 3-month follow-up period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that CBGT is effective in reducing the intensity of OCD symptoms and of overvalued ideas, and that it improves the OCD patient's quality of life in a short period of time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Hospital de Clínicas Porto Alegre, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil. acordioli@terra.com.br
authors.forename: Aristides
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Volpato Cordioli
authors.forename: Elizeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Heldt
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Braga Bochi
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Margis
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Basso de Sousa
authors.forename: Juliano
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fonseca Tonello
authors.forename: Gisele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gus Manfro
authors.forename: Flavio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kapczinski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome