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Evaluation ViewAttendees 11

Obsessive Compulsive and Related Disorders
Symposia

Symposium 90 - Innovating Approaches to Understanding and Treating Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Saturday, November 16, 2024
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM EST
Location: Grand Ballroom A, Level 5, Downtown Marriott
CE: 1

Keywords: OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), CBT, ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention)
Level of Familiarity: All
Recommended Readings: Olatunji, B. O., Davis, M. L., Powers, M. B., & Smits, J. A. J. (2013). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder: a meta-analysis of treatment outcome and moderators. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 47(1), 33–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2012.08.020,   Kyrios, M., Hordern, C., & Fassnacht, D. B. (2015). Predictors of response to cognitive behaviour therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, 15(3), 181–190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijchp.2015.07.003,   Abramowitz, J. S., Blakey, S. M., Reuman, L., & Buchholz, J. L. (2018). New directions in the cognitive-behavioral treatment of ocd: theory, research, and practice. Behavior Therapy, 49(3), 311–322. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2017.09.002,   ,  

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a serious mental health problem which causes significant distress and impairment for sufferers and their loved ones. While Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an effective first-line treatment for OCD, many individuals do not experience clinically significant change following CBT. Indeed, current issues related to relapse, drop-out, refusal and non-response in combination with barriers which impede accessibility and dissemination of treatment underscore the need for treatment innovations which aim to address these limitations. Such work is necessary to optimize treatment efficacy and engagement and ultimately to improve outcomes and overall wellbeing in patients.

Consistent with the conference aim of inspiring innovation to advance CBT, this symposium brings together an international group of clinical scientists to present on a range of diverse research initiatives in novel approaches to understanding and treating OCD. The first speaker will present data from a new intervention for OCD symptoms which targets beliefs about losing control, a key belief domain relevant in this disorder. The second presenter will discuss findings on an intensive outpatient program for OCD and compare treatment response across two delivery formats: in person versus virtual. The third presenter will discuss data on the use of machine learning models to identify demographic and clinical predictors of treatment outcomes in OCD. The fourth presenter will discuss patient perspectives on justice-based and traditional approaches to exposure and response prevention (ERP) for OCD themes that implicate marginalized identities. Together, these presentations highlight state-of-the art approaches in OCD treatment research and demonstrate how different strategies can be implemented to accomplish the shared goal of improving treatment outcomes. The symposium will conclude with a discussion by a leading expert in CBT for OCD who will offer key insights on the aforementioned research and discuss directions for future research and applicability to clinical practice.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, the learner will be able to:
  1. Recognize innovative strategies for enhancing CBT for OCD.
  2. Discuss how novel cognitive mechanisms in OCD can be targeted using clinical intervention.
  3. Consider how intensive outpatient programs can be leveraged to increase efficacy and accessibility of ERP for OCD.
  4. Describe how ERP can be framed through an equitable, thorough, and compassionate lens in the context of OCD with identity-related themes.
  5. Describe how technology can be used to optimize treatment.
  6. Identify future research directions for improving the efficacy of CBT for OCD.

Presentations:

  • 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM EST
    (SYM 90) A Novel Intervention for OCD Symptoms: Targeting Beliefs About Losing Control

    Speaker: Andrea Sandstrom, M.S. (she/her/hers) – Concordia University

    Co-author: Adam S. Radomsky, Ph.D. – Concordia University

  • 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM EST
    (SYM 90) Enhancing OCD Outcomes: Effectiveness of an Intensive Outpatient Program

    Speaker: Jonathan S. Abramowitz, Ph.D. – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

    Co-author: Emily K. Juel, B.S. – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

    Co-author: Kate Rogers, PhD – OCD Anxiety Centers

    Co-author: Sandra Hadlock, M.S. – OCD Anxiety Centers

    Co-author: Joseph Friedman, BA – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

    Co-author: Nicholas S. Myers, M.A. – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

    Co-author: Heidi J. Ojalehto, B.S. – UNC Chapel Hill

    Co-author: Maya E. Tadross, B.S. – UNC Chapel Hill

    Co-author: Chase M. DuBois, BA – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  • 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM EST
    (SYM 90) Prognostic Prediction of Outcomes in a Treatment Program for OCD & Related Disorders (OCRDs)

    Speaker: Olivia Woodson, BS – McLean Hospital

    Co-author: Mary E. McNamara, MA – McLean Hospital

    Co-author: Jennie M. Kuckertz, PhD – McLean Hospital / Harvard Medical School

    Co-author: Heather Martin, BA – McLean Hospital

    Co-author: Courtney Beard, Ph.D. – McLean Hospital

    Co-author: Christian A. Webb, Ph.D. (he/him/his) – Harvard Medical School and McLean Hospital

    Co-Author: Martha J. Falkenstein, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School

  • 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM EST
    (SYM 90) Consumer Perspectives on Justice-based ERP for OCD with Identity-related Themes

    Speaker: Caitlin M. Pinciotti, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – Baylor College of Medicine