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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06265233

ERP Plus Improv Group Therapy for OCD (IMPROVE Study)

The goal of this study is to pilot test a novel group therapy intervention for adults with OCD.

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Key information

Conditions

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Anxiety Disorders Mental Disorders

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

401 Quarry

Stanford, California, 94304, United States

About this study

The intervention will incorporate exposure and response prevention (ERP) with improvisational comedy ("improv") activities. ERP is the gold-standard treatment for OCD. Improv comedy is a type of theater in which actors perform without a script. This study aims to evaluate whether the intervention is helpful for reducing OCD symptoms and intolerance of uncertainty (a mechanism maintaining OCD). It will also explore whether the intervention is feasible and acceptable.

During the group therapy sessions, participants will engage with improv comedy exercises that have been adapted to function as exposures for different types of OCD. Participants will:

  • attend an ERP + improv group therapy intervention (90-minute sessions for 12 weeks)
  • complete homework in-between sessions
  • answer questions
  • complete questionnaires.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • At least 18 years of age
  • Ability to speak and understand English
  • Clinical diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Exclusion criteria

  • Current active suicidality
  • Medical or psychiatric illness that could interfere with study participation

Treatment and study plan

Group Improv sessions

Other

Therapist-led 90-minute exposure and response prevention (ERP) combined with improv sessions.

Other names: Improv Comedy

Group Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) Therapy

Behavioral

Therapist-led 90-minute exposure and response prevention (ERP) combined with improv sessions.

Other names: ERP

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in the severity of OCD symptoms as measured by the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS)

    Time frame: Baseline and up to 12 weeks

    Change in OCD severity is measured by the YBOCS (Yale Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale), a gold standard measure of obsessions and compulsions. For the YBOCS the minimum units are 0 and Maximum units on the total scale are 40. The higher the number on the YBOCS, the more severe the symptoms. Response is defined as at least a 35% change on the YBOCS.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Intolerance of Uncertainty Score

    Time frame: Baseline and up to 12 weeks

    Change in intolerance of uncertainty (IU) will be measured with the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale - Short Form (IUS-12). IU is the tendency to respond negatively to uncertain situations. The IUS-12 is a 12-item self-report measure that assesses IU. Each item is assessed using a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (not at all characteristic of me) to 5 (entirely characteristic of me).

    It consists of two subscales: Prospective IU and Inhibitory IU. Prospective IU is the cognitive appraisal of a threat related to future uncertainty. Inhibitory IU refers to the behavioral inhibition related to uncertainty. The Prospective IU subscale is comprised of 7 items, while the Inhibitory IU subscale is comprised of 5 items. Scores are summed to generate the two subscale scores and a total score. Total IUS-12 scores range from 12 to 60, with higher scores indicating a higher IU.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Stanford University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Pilot Study of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Plus Improv Group Therapy for OCD

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Feb 20, 2024
Registry last updated
May 28, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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