Efficacy of Personalized-Computerized Inhibitory Training program (PCIT) combined with exposure and response prevention on treatment outcomes in patients with contamination obsessive–compulsive disorder

BACKGROUND: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) including exposure and response prevention (ERP) is the most effective and first-line treatment for obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). However, a significant number of people leave it or do not respond to it effectively. The present study aimed to examine the efficacy of personalized-computerized inhibitory training (P-CIT) program combined with ERP on treatment outcomes in patients with contamination OCD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present research method was based on an experimental design with pre-test, post-test, and the two intervention and control groups. Thirty patients with contamination OCD were randomly assigned to the two groups of intervention and control based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The measures used in this study were Yale-Brown Scale, Stroop task, World Health Organization's Quality of Life Questionnaire, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5, and Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales -21. RESULTS: The results showed a significant reduction in severity of symptoms (F = 0.75, P < 001) and severity of anxiety (F = 0.75, P < 001) for the intervention group. Furthermore, task control (F = 12.44, P < 001), mental health (F = 28.32, P < 001), physical health (F = 2.48, P < 001), and overall quality of life (F = 0.19, P = 001) improved in the intervention group after the intervention. CONCLUSION: When P-CIT is exerted along with ERP, it may enhance inhibition of compulsions and increase the efficacy of ERP through improved task control, thereby resulting in reduced symptom severity and improved treatment outcomes in patients with contamination OCD.