The Effect of Cognitive Bias Modification Therapy on Symptoms of Obsessive-compulsive Disorder: Comparison Efficacy of Cognitive Bias Modification Therapy and Group Cognitive-behavioral Therapy

Cognitive bias modification refers to the change of specific style of cognitive processing that seems to be involved in the disorders or unpleasant emotional reactions. The main aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cognitive bias modification on reducing the severity of obsessive compulsive disorder. For this purpose, the available sample of 60 students with obsessive compulsive disorder has been selected. The research design was a semi-experimental design and pretest-posttest design with a control group. Participants in this study completed the Maudsly Obsessional Compulsive Inventory, Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale, and Obsessional Beliefs Questionnaire. Results of multivariate analysis of covariance showed that (1) the cognitive bias modification reduces the severity of obsessive compulsive disorder symptoms, obsessive beliefs, and obsessive behaviors. (2) Cognitive bias modification is more effective than group cognitive-behavioral therapy in reducing the severity of obsessive compulsive disorder symptoms, obsessive beliefs, and obsessive behaviors. With regard to this finding, we can propose all psychotherapists use of cognitive bias modification therapy that is cost-effect and empirically supported as a new and easy to use in the treatment of symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder.