Lovell et. al (OCD)

• The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of CBT conducted over the phone and CBT conducted face-to-face for people diagnosed with OCD.
• The hypothesis was that there would be little difference between the two groups. (outcomes will be similar).
• Randomised controlled trial was used.
• Ten weekly sessions were provided for participants in both conditions.
• 72 participants diagnosed with OCD were used.
• The age range was between 16-65 years old.
• All participants were from the UK; and attended one of two outpatient clinics.
• Participants all scored at least 16 on the Y-BCOS, and did not suffer from substance abuse or depressive disorder.
• Participants were randomly assigned to the telephone and the face-to-face condition.
• Independent measures design was used.
• Two experienced therapists conducted the sessions, with one in each hospital overseeing the whole treatment.
• Consistency of the treatment was maintained with manuals, supervised sessions, and four monthly training days.
• Before the study, participants were assessed twice four weeks apart. They were given a self-report version of the Y-BCOS to asses their OCD symptoms, as well as Becks depression index to asses their depressive symptoms.
• The participants did the same assessments after the treatment, as well as one, three, and six months afterwards. They were also given a client satisfaction questionnaire to complete.
• The researchers did not know which condition the participants were in. This reduced researcher bias. (single-blind technique).
• Results (1):

  • The mean Y-BCOS score was 25 (which means OCD of marked severity).
• Results (2):

  • Before the treatment, there was no difference in the Y-BCOS or BDI scores for both conditions.
• Results (3):

  • At all four time points, the clinical outcome was similar.
• Results (4):

  • Mean Y-BCOS score dropped significantly between the initial scores and after the treatment.
• Results (5):

  • Scores on the client satisfaction questionnaire showed that the patients were very satisfied with their treatment.
• Strengths of the study:

  • Random allocation was used which eliminated researcher bias.
  • The face-to-face group was used as a control which allowed the researchers to make comparisons between the two conditions.
  • The study made sure that the duration of the therapy sessions was the same, which made the study standardised; thus increasing validity and reliability.
  • The study has real-world applications.
• Weaknesses of the study:

  • The study sample is too small which makes the study lack generalisability.
  • The study is ethnocentric because all the participants are from the UK.