title: Full remission and relapse of obsessive-compulsive symptoms after cognitive-behavioral group therapy: a two-year follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess whether the results obtained with 12 sessions of cognitive-behavioral group therapy with obsessive-compulsive patients were maintained after two years, and whether the degree of symptom remission was associated with relapse.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two patients were followed. The severity of symptoms was measured at the end of cognitive-behavioral group therapy and at 18 and 24 months of follow-up. The assessment scales used were the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, Clinical Global Impression, Beck Depression Inventory, and Beck Anxiety Inventory.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The reduction in symptom severity observed at the end of treatment was maintained during the two-year follow-up period (F = 57.881; p < 0.001). At the end of the treatment, 9 (21.4%) patients presented full remission, 22 (52.4%) presented partial remission, and 11 (26.2%) had unchanged scores in the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale. After two years, 13 patients (31.0%) presented full remission, 20 (47.6%) had partial remission, and 9 (21.4%) had unchanged Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale scores. The full remission of symptoms at the end of the treatment was a protective factor against relapse (chi2 = 4,962; df = 1; p = 0.026).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings underscore the importance of attaining full remission of obsessive-compulsive symptoms during treatment and the need for new therapeutic strategies to achieve this.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2350, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. dtbraga@gmail.com
authors.forename: Daniela Tusi
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Braga
authors.forename: Gisele Gus
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Manfro
authors.forename: Kátia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Niederauer
authors.forename: Aristides Volpato
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Cordioli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome