The Effectiveness and Acceptability of the Bergen 4-day Treatment for Adolescents with OCD: a Replication and Extension

Overview

Journal BMC Psychiatry

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2024 Feb 21

PMID 38383351

Authors

Solvei Harila Skjold

Kristen Hagen

Michael G Wheaton

Kay Morten Hjelle

Throstur Bjorgvinsson

Bjarne Hansen

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: B4DT is a concentrated treatment format with prolonged sessions of exposure and ritual prevention (ERP) delivered over four consecutive days. Two previous open trials demonstrated promising results of the Bergen 4-day treatment (B4DT) for adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The aim of the current study was to replicate the initial results with a new sample of adolescents and different therapists at different sites across Norway.

Methods: Forty-three youths participated in treatment program. At pretreatment, posttreatment, and the three-month follow-up, OCD symptoms were assessed using the CY-BOCS interview, while the GAD-7 and PHQ-9 were administered to rate general anxiety symptoms and depressive symptoms. Acceptability and patient satisfaction with the treatment were rated with the CSQ-8.

Results: All symptoms were significantly reduced at posttreatment and follow-up. At posttreatment, 36 patients (85.71%) were defined as responders, while 29 patients (69.05%) achieved remission. At the three-month follow-up, 36 patients (92.3%) were defined as responders, while 33 patients (84.62%) were in remission. CSQ-8 scores indicated that the patients were highly satisfied with the treatment.

Conclusions: The B4DT was successfully replicated in a new sample at different sites across Norway, which indicates that this treatment is generalizable, effective and acceptable to adolescents with OCD.

Citing Articles

Insomnia as a predictor of treatment outcomes in adolescents receiving concentrated exposure treatment for OCD.

Skjold S, Hagen K, Wheaton M, Kallestad H, Hjelle K, Bjorgvinsson T BMC Psychiatry. 2024; 24(1):702.

PMID: 39425125 PMC: 11492211. DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-06183-3.

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