Psychological Flexibility as Shared Process of Change in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Exposure and Response Prevention for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Singe Case Design Study

Authors

Brian L. Thompson, Portland Psychotherapy Clinic, Research, & Training Center
Michael P. Twohig, Utah State UniversityFollow
Jason B. Luoma, Portland Psychotherapy Clinic, Research, & Training Center

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Behavior Therapy

Publisher

Elsevier Inc.

Publication Date

2020

First Page

1

Last Page

33

Abstract

Changes in psychological flexibility were tracked in a combined protocol of exposure and response prevention (ERP) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for adults with OCD to assess if changes in psychological flexibility processes were unique to ACT intervention (e.g., not impacted by ERP). Using a non-concurrent multiple baseline design, four participants received sessions of ERP and ACT while data was collected on psychological flexibility processes of change and OCD symptom severity. Results indicate treatment response for three of four participants based on OCD scores. Contrary to predictions, data suggest both ERP and ACT have positive effects on psychological flexibility. Implications of these findings are discussed in relation to recent research on ACT and ERP for OCD. This study also illustrates a type of research design that can be accomplished in clinical practice.

Recommended Citation

Thompson, B. L., Twohig, M. P., & Luoma, J. B. (in press). Tracking acceptance, defusion, and committed action during Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Exposure with Response Prevention for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Single Case Design Study. Behavior Therapy.