Recent Publication
We are excited to share the results of our recent multicenter randomized controlled trial in the prestigious journal Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics. This trial evaluated Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT) for obsessive-compulsive disorder as compared to standard CBT and mindfulness-based therapy Results show that I-CBT and mindfulness are both viable and effective treatment options for people with OCD. I-CBT appears particularly promising in terms of speed with which patients reach remission, its generalizability across symptom dimensions, its potentially higher level of acceptability, and effectiveness for those with overvalued ideation. The publication has been made available for free.
Ongoing Clinical Trial
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a first-line psychological treatment of choice, which requires patients to be exposed to feared stimuli. However, there is still a significant portion of patients that do not improve. In addition, a significant number of people refuse or drop out of treatment with ERP. A randomized controlled trial led by Dr. Frederick Aardema addresses this problem in a non-inferiority trial that compares ERP directly with I-CBT. It is expected that I-CBT is non-inferior to ERP. It is also expected that I-CBT is more effective for certain OCD subgroups and more tolerable as a treatment option. The trial is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and registered at clinicaltrials.gov by the National Library of Medicine at the National of Institute of Health.
Research Presentation
Watch this research presentation by Dr. Frederick Aardema on Inference-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT) delivered to clinicians at the Anxiety and Stress Disorders Institute of Maryland. The presentation provides an overview of the theoretical foundations of I- CBT, including scientific research in support of the model.
Special Issue on Feared Possible Selves in OCD
by Frederick Aardema and Kelvin Wong, Eds.
The Journal of Obsessive‐Compulsive and Related Disorders published a special issue on Feared possible selves in obsessive‐compulsive and related disorders with Frederick Aardema and Shiu Wong as guest editors with contributions from a wide variety of invited authors investigating the role of feared‐self perceptions in OCD.
Randomized Controlled Trial In the Netherlands
A multicentre randomized controlled trial is currently being carried across health authorities and treatment centers in the Netherlands led by Dr. Henny Visser.
The trial compares I-CBT with standard CBT (with ERP) for those with OCD. It aims to determine the non-inferiority of I-CBT as compared to standard CBT. The neurobiological mechanisms underlying successful outcome in each treatment will also be investigated in this trial.