Background: Cognitive-behavioral group therapy (CBGT) and serotonin reuptake inhibitors have proven efficacy in reducing symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). There is no consensus about which of these forms of treatment is more effective. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of CBGT as compared to that of sertraline in reducing OCD symptoms. Method: Fifty-six outpatients with an OCD diagnosis, according to DSM-IV criteria, participated in the randomized clinical trial: 28 took 100 mg/day of sertraline and 28 underwent CBGT for 12 weeks. Efficacy of treatments was rated according to the reduction in scores on the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS) and the Clinical Global Impressions-Severity of Illness scale. The trial was performed in 4 successive periods from March 2002 to December 2003. Results: Both treatments were effective, although patients treated with CBGT obtained a mean YBOCS reduction of symptoms of 44%, while those treated with sertraline obtained only a 28% reduction (p = .033). Cognitive-behavioral group therapy was also significantly more effective in reducing the intensity of compulsions (p = .030). Further, 8 patients (32%) treated with CBGT presented a complete remission of OCD symptoms (YBOCS score ≤ 8) as compared to only 1 patient (4%) among those who received sertraline (p = .023). Conclusion: Cognitive-behavioral group therapy and sertraline have shown to be effective in reducing OCD symptoms. Nevertheless, the rate of symptom reduction, intensity reduction of compulsions, and percentage of patients who obtained full remission were significantly higher in patients treated with CBGT.

Objective: To develop a cognitive-behavioral group therapy protocol and to verify its efficacy to reduce obsessivecompulsive symptoms.Methods: An open clinical trial with 32 obsessive-compulsive patients was performed, in which a cognitivebehavioral group therapy protocol of 12 weekly sessions of two hours, in 5 consecutive groups, was applied. The severity of symptoms was rated with the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive (Y-BOCS), Hamilton Anxiety (HAM A) and Hamilton Depression (HAM D) scales. The patients were followed up for 3 months after the end of the treatment. Results: There was a significant reduction in the scores of Y-BOCS, HAM A and HAM D scales with the treatment regardless the use of anti-obsessive medications. The rate of improved patients (decrease of ≥35% in Y-BOCS) was 78.1%. Two patients (6.25%) dropped out from the study. The effect size calculated for the Y-BOCS scale was 1.75. Conclusions: This study suggests that cognitive-behavioral group therapy reduces obsessive-compulsive symptoms. In addition, patients presented good compliance.Obsessive-compulsive disorder. Behavior therapy. Cognitive therapy. Group therapy.Objetivos: Desenvolver um protocolo de terapia cognitivo-comportamental em grupo e verificar sua eficácia em reduzir os sintomas obsessivo-compulsivos. Métodos: Foi realizado um ensaio clínico não controlado com 32 pacientes portadores de transtorno obsessivocompulsivo, com aplicação de um protocolo de terapia cognitivo-comportamental em grupo, de 12 sessões semanais de duas horas, em cinco grupos sucessivos. Os pacientes foram avaliados pela escalas Yale-Brown

Background: The present study was designed to verify the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral group therapy (CBGT) in reducing obsessive-compulsive symptoms and the intensity of overvalued ideas, as well as in improving the patient’s quality of life. Methods: Forty-seven patients meeting DSM-IV criteria for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) were randomly assigned to either 12 weekly CBGT sessions or a waiting list (control group). Treated patients were followed for three months. Results: There was a significant reduction in the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (p < 0.001), in the National Institute of Mental Health Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (p < 0.001), in the Overvalued Ideas Scale (p < 0.001), and a significant improvement in the quality of life in the four domains of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Scale: physical (p < 0.001), psychological (p < 0.017), social (p < 0.018) and environmental (p < 0.04). No significant reduction was found in the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (p = 0.111) and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (p = 0.271). The concomitant use of anti-obsessional medications did not influence the results. The rate of improved patients was 69.6% in the treated group and 4.2% in the control group (p < 0.001). The therapeutic gains were maintained and an additional reduction in symptoms was observed during the 3-month follow-up period. Conclusions: The results suggest that CBGT is effective in reducing the intensity of OCD symptoms and of overvalued ideas, and that it improves the OCD patient’s quality of life in a short period of time.