Predictors of response to exposure and response prevention-based cognitive behavioral therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Hamatani, Sayo; Tsuchiyagaito, Aki; Nihei, Masato; Hayashi, Yuta; Yoshida, Tokiko; Takahashi, Jumpei; Okawa, Sho; Arai, Honami; Nagaoka, Maki; Matsumoto, Kazuki; Shimizu, Eiji; Hirano, Yoshiyuki

BACKGROUND Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which includes exposure and response prevention (ERP), is effective in improving symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, whether poor cognitive functions and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) traits affect the therapeutic response of patients with OCD to ERP-based CBT remains unclear. This study aimed to identify factors predictive of the therapeutic response of Japanese patients with OCD to ERP-based CBT. METHODS Forty-two Japanese outpatients with OCD were assessed using the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III (WAIS-III), Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item scale, and Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) at pre- and post-treatment. We used multiple regression analyses to estimate the effect on therapeutic response change. The treatment response change was set as a dependent variable in multiple regression analyses. RESULTS Multiple regression analyses showed that among independent variables, communication as an AQ sub-scale and Letter Number Sequencing as a WAIS-III sub-test predict the therapeutic response to ERP-based CBT . CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that diminished working memory (Letter Number Sequencing), poor communication skill (AQ sub-scale) may undermine responsiveness to ERP-based CBT among patients with OCD. TRIAL REGISTRATION UMIN, UMIN00024087 . Registered 20 September 2016 - Retrospectively registered (including retrospective data).