Four-day intensive treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder - a feasibility study

ISRCTN ISRCTN35242159
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN35242159
Submission date
09/06/2022
Registration date
10/06/2022
Last edited
10/06/2022
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English Summary

Background and study aims
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common mental health condition where a person has obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours. OCD can affect men, women and children. Some people start having symptoms early, often around puberty, but it usually starts during early adulthood.
Bergen 4 Day Treatment (B4DT) is a concentrated exposure treatment (cET) developed to treat OCD. It has proven to be highly acceptable and effective in other settings. In this feasibility study we investigate the implementation, feasibility, and preliminary outcomes of B4DT treatment in HUS psychiatry settings in 5-7 therapy groups.

Who can participate?
Adult patients who have been diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder.

What does the study involve?
The study involves a pre-screening interview, the actual intensive treatment period in four consecutive days in HUS outpatient clinic within a group of 3-6 patients and at least the same number of therapists, and a follow-up at 10 days and at 3 months after the treatment.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Based on previous research results, we assume the Bergen 4 Day Treatment model will be an effective and safe treatment that is well suited for the Finnish treatment environment. Participating in the study may be beneficial for you and ameliorate your OCD symptoms.
As the exact same treatment has been in use in other Scandinavian countries for some years and shown to be safe and effective, it is unlikely to have any unexpected adverse events.

Where is the study run from?
Helsinki University Hospital (Finland)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
November 2021 to April 2023

Who is funding the study?
Helsinki University Hospital (Finland)

Who is the main contact?
Suoma Saarni, PhD, suoma.saarni@hus.fi

Contact information

Dr Suoma Saarni
Principal Investigator

HUS Brain Center
Department of Psychiatry
It-psychiatry and psychosocial treatments
P.o.Box 590
Helsinki
00029 HUS
Finland

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0003-3555-9958
Phone +358 9 4711
Email suoma.saarni@hus.fi

Study information

Study designObservational feasibility study
Primary study designObservational
Secondary study designCohort study
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a patient information sheet.
Scientific titleBergen 4 Day Treatment (B4DT) for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – an observational feasibility study
Study acronymB4DT-HKI-I
Study hypothesisWe investigate the implementation, feasibility, and preliminary outcomes of B4DT treatment in
HUS psychiatry settings in Finland
Ethics approval(s)Approved 06/04/2022, Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District (HUS) Ethics Committee (PO BOX 705, 00029, Finland; +358 40 617 5386; mirka.salin@hus.fi), ref: HUS/1085/2022
ConditionObsessive-compulsive disorder
InterventionThe patients will receive a concentrated exposure treatment (cET) conducted in four consecutive days in HUS psychiatry outpatient clinic according to Bergen four day treatment for OCD (B4DT) manual. After ten days and three weeks after treatment, patients are offered a short follow-up session to discuss their experiences during and after the active treatment period.
Intervention typeBehavioural
Primary outcome measureWithin-individual decline in Y-BOCS score before the intervention vs. after the treatment and at three months.
Secondary outcome measuresMeasured before the intervention vs. after the treatment and at three months.
1. OCD symptoms measured with OCI-R and DOCS-SF
2. Depression (PHQ-9)
3. Anxiety (GAD-7)
4. Sleeping problems (BIS)
5. Functionality (WSAS)
6. Well-being (WEMWBS)
7. Client satisfaction (CSQ-8)
Overall study start date09/11/2021
Overall study end date20/04/2023

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
SexMale
Target number of participants30
Participant inclusion criteriaDSM-5 Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Participant exclusion criteria1. Concurrent psychotic disorder
2. Substance use disorder
3. Imminent risk of suicide
4. Congenital disability
5. New antidepressant or antipsychotic pharmacotherapy trial started within the last six weeks
6. Use of benzodiazepines is allowed only for insomnia
7. Ongoing other evidence-based psychotherapy for OCD
Recruitment start date01/05/2022
Recruitment end date31/12/2022

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Finland

Study participating centre

Helsinki University Hospital
HUS Brain Center
Department of Psychiatry
P.o.Box 590
Helsinki
00029 HUS
Finland

Sponsor information

Helsinki University Hospital
Hospital/treatment centre

HUS Brain Center
Department of Psychiatry
P.o.Box 590
Helsinki
00029 HUS
Finland

Phone +350 9 4711
Email erkki.isometsa@helsinki.fi
Website https://www.hus.fi/en
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/02e8hzf44

Funders

Funder type

Hospital/treatment centre

Helsinki University Hospital

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date01/12/2023
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot expected to be made available
Publication and dissemination planIntended to be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal
IPD sharing planThe data will be held by the Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District, and it will not be available because of limitations caused by the Finnish data protection legislation, content of consent requested, and research permit.

Editorial Notes

10/06/2022: Trial's existence confirmed by HUS ethics committee