Meta-analysis comparing the efficacy of Exposure and Response Prevention, Cognitive-Behavior Therapy and Third Wave of Behavior Therapies on Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (ERP), Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (CBT) and Third-Wave Behavior Therapies on Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in Iranian population. The research method was a meta-analysis and the statistical population of all researches conducted in Iran between 2005 and 2017 was 58 studies that among them, 34 studies were selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria as the research sample and finally reported 13 effect sizes for ERP, 19 effect sizes for CBT and 12 effect sizes for Third-Wave Behavior Therapies. The effect size index was the standardized mean difference also statistical analysis was done by comprehensive meta-analysis software. The results showed that ERP (d= 1.815, P= 0.05), CBT (d= 1.542, P= 0.05) and Third-Wave Behavior Therapies (d= 1.688, P= 0.05) had been effective for OCD. In addition, study of type of treatment as a moderating variable didn’t show significant difference. Based on the findings of this meta-analysis, it can be concluded that exposure is the most important therapeutic process in the treatment of OCD which it is an essential component in all three therapeutic approaches, and probably adding cognitive, mindfulness and acceptance components will not significantly contribute to the efficacy of behavioral therapy based on ERP in Iranian patients with OCD.