Overview
Obessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is frequently treatment-refractory and imposes a substantial burden on affected individuals. Although Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is widely regarded as the first-line intervention, its inherently distressing nature contributes to treatment refusal and premature dropout in a subset of patients. The present study aims to develop and validate a novel intervention, Mindfulness-Based Exposure Therapy (MBET).
In contrast to existing protocols that incorporate mindfulness as an adjunct to ERP and have yielded mixed or limited benefits, this study seeks a theoretically grounded integration of mindfulness and exposure-based principles. We hypothesize that mindfulness training improves emotion regulation, thereby producing a synergistic effect that enhances patients' capacity to engage in and complete exposure tasks.
From a clinical perspective, MBET is intended to offer a more tolerable and acceptable alternative to standard ERP, with the potential to improve treatment adherence and clinical outcomes among patients who experience traditional exposure procedures as excessively distressing.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Have a primary diagnosis of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) according to DSM-5 criteria
- Are between 16 and 55 years of age (inclusive)
- Have a Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) total score ≥ 16
- Have an education level of junior high school or above
- Are medication-free or have been stabilized on psychotropic medication for at least 8 weeks
- Have sufficient visual and auditory capabilities to complete study assessments
- Are willing to participate and provide written informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- Meet DSM-5 criteria for any other psychiatric disorder besides OCD
- Have severe OCD symptoms that prevent completion of assessments
- Exhibit active suicidal ideation or high suicide risk
- Have a serious somatic disease, central nervous system disease, or substance abuse history
- Are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning pregnancy
- Have metal implants contraindicated for MRI (e.g., pacemakers, intracranial clips, metal dentures, arterial stents, joint fixations)
