Clinical Practice Guidelines for Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies in Anxiety Disorders and Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders

Authors: Y. C. Janardhan Reddy, Paulomi M. Sudhir, M. Manjula, Shyam Sundar Arumugham, Janardhanan C. Narayanaswamy

INTRODUCTION

Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent psychiatric disorders worldwide, with a lifetime prevalence of up to 33%.[1] They often run a chronic course and are highly comorbid with other anxiety and mood disorders. Anxiety disorders are associated with immense healthcare costs and huge burden. Despite the availability of evidence-based interventions, they are often underrecognized and undertreated. The major anxiety disorders in the current classificatory system include panic disorder (PD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), specific phobia, and social anxiety disorder (SAD). Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) has been nosologically separated from anxiety disorders and classified under the section of obsessive–compulsive and related disorders (OCRDs) in the DSM-5[2] and ICD-11.[3] Commonly described disorders in this category include OCD, body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs, i.e., trichotillomania and skin-picking disorder), and hoarding disorder.

Both pharmacological and psychological interventions are effective in treating anxiety disorders and OCRDs. Clinical practice guidelines often recommend cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) as a first-line treatment for both anxiety disorders and OCRDs. In the following sections, we discuss scientifically tested CBT models, their evidence base, and treatment recommendations for individual disorders. Treatment recommendations are graded based on the Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy system, with three levels of recommendation, based on the quality, quantity, and consistency of evidence [Table 1].[4]

PANIC DISORDER

PD is often a chronic illness with waxing and waning course characterized by recurrent and unexpected panic attacks. The panic attacks are usually associated with anticipatory anxiety/worry of having another panic attack or consequences of the attack and maladaptive behaviors such as avoidance, safety behaviors, and changes in daily routine. Patients often develop agoraphobia in response to panic attacks. Lifetime prevalence of PD ranges between 1.6% and 5.2%, and it is about two times more common in women than in men.[1] PD is often comorbid with other psychiatric disorders, particularly anxiety, mood, and substance use disorders.

Assessment

Patients with PD often focus on physical symptoms and attribute their symptoms to medical causes. Ruling out medical causes of panic attacks is an important aspect of assessment. Proper diagnosis and assessment of severity of the panic and comorbid disorders play an important role in planning therapy. Comorbidity generally adds to the severity of symptoms, functional impairment, and economic costs and is associated with slower rate of response. For example, the presence of severe depression may interfere with the therapy for PD. Therefore, it is important to assess for comorbid conditions and treat them.

Commonly used instruments to diagnose and assess panic attacks are shown in Table 2. Behavioral analysis of the problem is an important aspect of assessment that would provide information on predisposing, precipitating, and perpetuating biopsychosocial and lifestyle factors. Some of the major points gathered by behavioral analysis are shown in Table 3. Comprehensive assessment would aid in identifying the targets of therapy and choosing therapeutic components and appropriate assessment methods to monitor outcome. Having a collaborative therapeutic relationship is crucial for obtaining adequate information, enhancing motivation, and ensuring participation in therapy.

Formulating a treatment plan

Formulating the treatment plan would be based on the targets identified during assessment, which is communicated to the patient. Formulation often includes presenting a model of panic and factors maintaining the disorder, as well as the treatments available. The formulation should also include education about comorbid symptoms if present. The formulations are delivered according to the need, receptivity, and understanding of the patient. Presenting a formulation gives confidence to the patients that their symptoms can be understood, explained, and treated.

The typical CBT model is based on the catastrophic misinterpretation of interoceptive stimuli. The model emphasizes a vicious cycle of catastrophic misinterpretation of normal bodily sensations, resulting in anxiety symptoms (arousal symptoms), interpretation of anxiety symptoms as indicators of impending dangerous consequences which further worsens the problem, and consequent avoidance and safety behaviors leading to maintenance of fear and anticipatory anxiety [Figure 1].[14] The standard components of individual CBT are summarized in Table 4.[1516] The steps involved in administering CBT are shown in Figure 2.

Choice of treatment settings

Therapy for PD is largely carried out on an outpatient basis. However, in certain situations (e.g., presence of comorbid severe depression/other anxiety disorders/substance abuse or dependence, failed outpatient therapy, and inability to implement therapy on an outpatient basis because of severity of illness), in-patient therapy may be offered.

Efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy in panic disorder

CBT is the first-line psychological treatment for PD.[1718] There is well-replicated evidence for short- and long-term effectiveness of CBT.[19] Strength of recommendation for various psychological interventions for PD is shown in Table 5. A recent component network meta-analysis reviewed 72 studies to disentangle the effects of components of CBT and reported that cognitive restructuring, interoceptive exposure, and face-to-face setting were associated with better efficacy and acceptability, while muscle relaxation, breathing retraining, in vivo exposure, and virtual reality exposure (VRE) were associated with lower efficacy.[19] Pharmacological interventions, antidepressants in particular, and CBT appear to be equally efficacious in the treatment of PD.[20] A long-term follow-up study of PD patients treated with CBT reported a relapse rate of 23% over 2–14 years of follow-up period.[21]

Delivery of cognitive behavioral therapy

Individual face-to-face mode of CBT is found to be most effective.[19] The number of sessions generally range between 10 and 15 weekly sessions; however, briefer intervention with 6–7 sessions is also shown to be effective.[22] Minimal therapist contact interventions such as bibliotherapy, internet-based CBT, and self-exposure have been studied and found to be more effective than waitlist or relaxation controls. However, unsupervised self-help is found to be less effective than therapist-administered treatments. There is a need to examine cost-effectiveness and acceptability of these interventions.

When to stop treatment

Acute treatment is stopped after addressing the symptoms causing distress, i.e., the target symptoms identified in collaboration with the patient, which may happen over 10–15 weeks. The decision on discontinuation/spacing of the sessions (weekly to fortnightly or monthly) is taken jointly. The patients are prepared for the termination in advance (at the beginning when therapy plan is proposed as well as a few sessions before termination). Patients are prepared for detecting the early warning signs and application of the techniques learned in the therapy. They are also prepared to handle the factors that may trigger panic. It has been found that supplemental CBT, offered at the time of medication withdrawal, has lowered relapse rates in some people. Psychological therapies are found to have a long duration of effect followed by pharmacological therapy and self-help.[19]

Guidance for maintenance and follow-up

Most often, booster sessions carried out over few months would maintain the gains. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) indicated that maintenance CBT carried out monthly over 9 months after acute treatment maintained the gains up to 21 months and had significantly lowered the relapse rate (5.2%) compared to those who did not get maintenance CBT (18.4% relapsed).[23] In some people, continuing booster sessions only during relapse would help. In people where there are multiple psychosocial stressors that contribute to the maintenance of PD, psychological therapies have to be adapted to the mode of maintenance therapy (similar to chronic illness). Augmentation of CBT with mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), or supportive therapy according to the necessity as assessed by a clinician also might be helpful. However, there is a need to examine the effect of augmentation of therapies in treatment-refractory cases.

GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER

Patients with GAD worry excessively over everyday things and experience excessive anxiety. They find it difficult to control the worry and often experience symptoms, such as restlessness, easy fatigue, concentration difficulties, irritability, muscular tension, and sleep problems. The content of worry would include things within their control as well as which are not under one's control (e.g., illness, future, and community issues) going wrong in a catastrophic way. They involve in behaviors to reduce the worry such as reassurance-seeking, avoidance of events, and mentally preparing for events.

Lifetime prevalence of GAD ranges between 3% and 6%; it is around two times more common in women than in men.[1] GAD has a chronic course with exacerbations during stressful life events. It is associated with significant dysfunction and results in reduced quality of life and economic costs. Less than one-third of the patients seek help and mostly from primary care physicians, often for physical symptoms or for depression. GAD is highly comorbid with other anxiety and mood disorders; in addition, the risk of medical conditions is also elevated.

Assessment

It is important to ascertain the nature and content of worry. Commonly used measures of GAD are given in Table 6. The assessment aims to ascertain the diagnosis of GAD and comorbid (anxiety/mood) disorders and exclude medical conditions with similar presentations (endocrine, cardiopulmonary, and neurological conditions). Behavioral analysis is crucial to understand the individual and environmental factors, contributing to the maintenance of symptoms as well as those that alleviate and aggravate the symptoms [Table 7]. Establishing a good therapeutic relationship and facilitating motivation for therapy are important. It is also crucial to understand the patient's goals and expectation of therapy.

Formulating a treatment plan

Various cognitive models have tried to explain GAD for avoidance model of worry and GAD, intolerance of uncertainty model, metacognitive model, emotion dysregulation model, and acceptance-based model.[27] The common concepts across various models include cognitive avoidance (experiential avoidance), positive and negative beliefs about worry, poor understanding of emotions and maladaptive coping with emotions (worrying), and poor problem orientation and problem-solving. The individual formulations are tailored according to the presentation of symptoms in a patient.[27]

Therapy should be planned based on the baseline assessment, expectations, and preferences of the patient and feasibility. The distress and dysfunction have to be addressed first by working on regularizing the daily activities. CBT programs typically address the physical, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms of GAD. Cognitive model (intolerance of uncertainty model) of GAD is shown in Figure 3.[28] The essential components of CBT are given in Table 8.[52930] Steps involved in the delivery of CBT are shown in Figure 4.

Choice of treatment setting

CBT for GAD is typically delivered on an outpatient basis. However, in-patient treatment may be considered in the presence of comorbid severe anxiety, OCD, substance abuse, personality disorder, depressive disorders, or self-harm behaviors.

Efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy for generalized anxiety disorder

CBT is found to be more efficacious than waitlist control condition in treating GAD, but its superiority over other psychotherapies is not established because of paucity of comparative studies.[31] CBT may be helpful for treating comorbid depression, with gains being maintained at 6 and 12 months of follow-up.[31] There is some evidence that CBT may be more effective than applied relaxation.[31] Although both individual and group CBT are equally effective, individual therapy is associated with a larger effect size, earlier improvement in symptoms, and higher adherence. Therapy formats with eight or fewer sessions are also found to be effective; however, more number of sessions may be required when addressing worry and depression.[32] Mindfulness is found to have similar effects compared to CBT and behavior therapies.[33] A meta-analysis has shown that digital/internet-based CBT is superior to waitlist and placebo control while being comparable to face-to-face and group CBT.[34] Transdiagnostic therapies designed to be applicable across various emotional disorders have been found to be helpful, especially in those with comorbid conditions. Comparative efficacy of this intervention vis-a-vis disorder-specific therapy is yet to be evaluated rigorously.[35]

There are a number variants of CBT that have been examined using RCTs with and without applied relaxation, cognitive therapy, mindfulness and acceptance-based interventions, metacognitive therapy (MCT), intolerance of uncertainty therapy, cognitive bias modification, emotion regulation therapy, yoga-enhanced CBT, exercise therapy, and short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy. There is a need for further studies to replicate their effectiveness as well as comparative effectiveness to CBT. Strength of recommendation for various psychological interventions for GAD is shown in Table 9.

When to stop treatment

The number of sessions required for improvement may vary depending on the severity of GAD and response to therapy. Although the optimal duration of therapy is not determined, people with GAD may require more number of sessions, spread over a year. Initial 12–15 sessions may be spaced closely (weekly) followed by more spaced sessions (once a month). Treatment can be terminated either when the targets are achieved or when there is plateauing of response.

Guidance for maintenance and follow-up

There are no agreed upon guidelines for maintenance and follow-up of psychotherapy in GAD. Therapy is generally long term and may require regular follow-up up to 1 year. Open appointments to help handling stressful situations that trigger beliefs of uncertainty/need for control/positive beliefs of worrying would help in coping with stressful situations and reducing severity of symptoms.

SPECIFIC PHOBIA

Phobia is defined as an excessive, irrational fear toward an object or situation that cannot be explained or reasoned away and is beyond voluntary control. A person actively avoids the stimulus or endures it with extreme distress. There is significant impairment in the individual's functioning due to fear. Specific phobic stimuli include animals (spiders, insects, and dogs), natural environment (storms, thunder, and heights), situations (elevators and airplanes), and blood injury phobia (needles and invasive procedures). About 75% have more than one phobia.[2]

Specific phobia is the most prevalent anxiety disorder, with a lifetime prevalence between 8.3%–13.8%.[1] Similar to other anxiety disorders, it has a male prevalence ratio of around 1.[1] Treatment seeking and utilization in specific phobias are delayed or limited and many do not seek mental health consultations.

Assessment

In addition to a detailed clinical interview, assessment for CBT for specific phobia must include functional analysis of cues, extent of avoidance, safety behaviors, accommodation by others, nature of arousal symptoms, negative automatic thoughts associated with it, and degree of impairment. If there is more than one phobic stimulus, this information is obtained separately for each of them. The functional analysis will also document information on early learning experiences that are likely contributors to the acquisition of the phobia. A fear hierarchy, with an ascending order of the triggering cues, along with subjective units of distress is constructed for the purpose of exposure therapy.

Self-report of fears

The Fear Questionnaire by Mathews and Marks[36] is a self-report measure of fear and avoidance of various stimuli, including blood, traveling alone, social situations, and going to a dentist. Items are marked on both avoidance and distress experienced. Several other measures are available that tap specific fears (spider, dental, and blood injury) and may be used in addition to functional analysis.

Formulating a treatment plan

CBT for specific phobias is based on the learning theories that explain acquisition and maintenance of phobias using the two-factor model, where fear is acquired through classical conditioning (anxiety/aversive experience associated with the stimuli) and maintained through instrumental conditioning (avoidance). Acquisition of fears via modeling (vicarious) and informational learning (social messages) is emphasized by social learning theory. Cognitive models of phobia stress on the role of threat appraisal in the development of specific phobias. Based on these learning and cognitive theories, psychological treatments of specific phobias focus on exposure to phobic stimuli, habituation, and extinction of fear response and reappraisal of threat.

Exposure therapies

Exposure is the treatment of choice in the management of specific phobias and refers to deliberate presentation of the feared stimulus for a prolonged period of time, without engaging in distraction, avoidance, or any other safety behaviors, until the stimuli no longer evoke fear or the fear is significantly reduced. Habituation (to the fear response) and extinction are two key mechanisms by which exposure works.

Exposure can be delivered through several ways. The most effective way is that of in vivo exposure or direct exposure to feared stimuli, followed by imaginal exposure in which the patient is asked to imagine the feared stimuli, and in vitro or virtual reality-based exposure.

Virtual reality exposure

VRE is a technology-based exposure in which the person is exposed to the feared stimulus using a simulated environment within the controlled setting and is immersive and interactive in nature, therefore closest to real-life exposure. VRE has demonstrated efficacy in specific phobias (fear of flying, interactions, and large open spaces), with large-to-moderate effect sizes and maintenance of gains over follow-up.[37]

Despite its demonstrated efficacy, one of the major challenges in exposure therapy is the high attrition rate and refusal to participate in exposure due to intolerance of anxiety. Brief inadequate exposures result in insufficient exposure to feared stimuli, or if safety behaviors or subtle avoidance during exposure result in enhancement of fear response, through incubation.

Modeling is a therapeutic approach based on vicarious learning. Modeling can be achieved by directly modeling the behavior by a role model (e.g., therapist in the session) or through video modeling (e.g., a successful medical procedure). Modeling here is used to promote or facilitate approach behaviors toward the feared object.

Systematic desensitization (SD) is a therapeutic approach is based on the principle of reciprocal inhibition. SD comprises three steps of training in deep muscle relaxation, constructing a fear hierarchy, and presenting the anxiety cues, by juxtaposing them with the experience of relaxation such that relaxation inhibits the anxiety.

While exposure therapy is the treatment of choice for specific phobias, cognitive therapy addresses threat appraisal, in addition to safety behaviors and avoidance. Cognitive therapy in specific phobia is more effective than waitlist control and no treatment controls and may be more indicated when maintaining factors are related to cognitions and safety behaviors than merely the fear response.[38] However, few studies employ cognitive restructuring alone to allow for comparisons between treatments.

Treatment of blood injury phobia

Blood injury phobia is a distinct focal phobia that is characterized by a vasovagal response that results in fainting (syncope), and there is a drop in blood pressure rather than anxiety. Persons with blood injury phobia may additionally have significant avoidance of hospitals and other associated cues such as needles and blood. While exposure is effective in treating avoidance response to generalized cues, applied tension (AT), a technique that raises blood pressure, is recommended when working on exposure to specific cues related to the phobia.[39] AT, a five-session behavioral coping technique, has two learning a tension technique and applying it in specific situations. Treatment begins with providing the patient a rationale for AT based on the diphasic response of initial increase in blood pressure and subsequent drop, resulting in fainting. Patient is instructed to note down early cues of this response. Following this, the tension method is introduced, whereby patient is asked to tense, gross muscle groups across arms, chest, and legs, until the patient feels a sense of warmth in the face. In the next three sessions, the patient is exposed gradually to pictures of injury and blood and then to actual settings, such as blood donation and minor surgeries, during which the patient is instructed to apply the tension technique.

Choice of treatment setting

Most patients are treated on an outpatient basis and remain functional in most areas of life.

Efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy in specific phobia

Review of psychological treatments for specific phobias indicates largest and consistent evidence for exposure therapies. While all modalities of exposure are effective compared to other treatment components, in vivo exposure is superior compared to imaginal and in vitro exposure. Exposure therapies also outperform treatments that do not include exposure as a component, such as applied relaxation with no exposure, only cognitive restructuring, AT. With respect to factors moderating effect size and outcome, type of phobia is not a significant factor; however, the number of treatment sessions was a significant moderator, with multi-session treatments performing better than single-session treatments.[40] Strength of recommendation for various techniques targeting specific phobia is shown in Table 10.

SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER

SAD is a common anxiety disorder, with a lifetime prevalence varying from 3% to 13%.[1] It has an onset in early-to-middle adolescence and is more prevalent among women.[1] SAD is characterized by marked and persistent fear of social (meeting people, attending a social gathering) or performance (public speaking) situations, with fear of being embarrassed, scrutinized, or negatively evaluated. Social situations are avoided or endured with distress. Other clinical features of SAD include experience of physiological arousal (e.g., fear of blushing, sweating, and palpitations) and negative cognitions (e.g., social and/or cognitive catastrophes, such as losing control over emotions and going blank). SAD is marked by functional impairment and is more than normal shyness, although people with SAD may report being shy individuals. SAD is characterized by high degree of psychiatric comorbidity. The most common comorbid conditions include major depressive disorder, other anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, and personality disorders and notably anxious avoidant personality disorder.[41]

Assessment

The most widely used measures in SAD are shown in Table 11. A detailed clinical history and a cognitive behavioral or functional analysis [Table 12] are essential steps in the assessment for therapy. Assessment is aimed at identifying nature of fears, extent of avoidance, fears of negative evaluation, severity of social anxiety, and impairment in functioning and comorbid conditions.

Formulating a treatment plan

Cognitive models of social anxiety focus on self-focused attention and resultant heightened self-consciousness and self-processing biases,[47] mental representation of self as seen by others and attentional biases to threats in social situations,[48] and metacognitive processes[49] underlying social anxiety. Typical model and the steps involved in administering CBT for SAD are shown in Figures 5[4748] and 6, respectively.

CBT for social anxiety is typically conducted over 14–16 sessions (weekly, over 3–4 months). The essential components of the program are shown in Table 13. Patients may also be encouraged to use workbooks to maximize gains in therapy.[50] Systematic and repeated practice of skills is essential and the key to better outcomes across all approaches within CBT.

Exposure

Exposure is an essential component of CBT. It involves graded exposure to socially feared situations without any escape or avoidance (including distraction and safety behaviors). Exposure can be in vivo or in imagination and would be largely dependent on the nature of the feared stimuli and opportunities for exposure. Although exposure is a critical element in the treatment of phobias, there are some challenges posed in the use of exposure in SAD. These include (a) being able to ensure graduated and repeatable tasks as social situations may be variable and somewhat unpredictable in outcomes; (b) prolonging exposure time as social situations may be naturally brief; (c) ensuring that adequate time is spent in exposure, due to cognitive processes such as self-focused attention; and (d) dealing with the cognitive aspects of social phobia, such as cognitive errors.[51] These difficulties are overcome using in-session exposures, behavioral experiments, and role-plays, which provide opportunities to ensure consistency across exposure tasks.

Cognitive restructuring

Cognitive restructuring is achieved through both verbal and behavioral methods. As part of the process of cognitive restructuring, individuals are taught to (1) identify negative thoughts that occur before, during, or after anxiety-provoking situations using self-monitoring; (2) evaluate the accuracy of their thoughts using information from Socratic questioning and/or through behavioral experiments that are aimed at testing predictions (e.g., “I will stammer so much that the shop-keeper will not understand me”); and (3) generate rational alternative thoughts based on the information acquired through and rate the conviction in these rational alternatives. Cognitive restructuring techniques and exposure are interlinked in that exposure tasks and behavioral experiments can be used to challenge dysfunctional beliefs. Modification of dysfunctional beliefs can also be attempted using other verbal methods, such as asking patient to drop excessive rules for one's social behavior, keeping a log of positive experiences that counter their predictions, recording evidence from the external situation that contradicts their biases, and facilitating perspective-taking.[4748]

Applied relaxation

Excessive physiological arousal is common in SAD and may interfere with expression of social skills and enhance self-processing biases. Some patients also report panic attacks. The role of relaxation in social anxiety has been discussed with varying viewpoints, with some models excluding relaxation altogether.[4748] Applied relaxation involves training the client through various stages of relaxation from progressive muscle relaxation to rapid relaxation, with the aim of producing the relaxation response in a short time, to be used in different social situations (applied) at the earliest experience of anxiety. It is a portable form of relaxation and involves elements of exposure in the final phase of application. It is meant to serve as a coping mechanism. The client should be aware of this and should not use relaxation as a safety behavior. Although it was initially used extensively in PD, later studies have demonstrated its role in SAD as well.

Social skills training

Majority of persons with SAD may have performance deficits due to anxiety, rather than actual skills deficits. The need to address social skills has been linked to social competence and functioning in persons with SAD. Assertiveness skills training addresses specific interpersonal skills such as making and refusing requests, expressing negative and positive feelings, negotiating, and bargaining. Social skills training (SST) involves a significant component of exposure to social situations as part of the training and contributes to the reduction in anxiety. The common techniques used for SST include modeling, role-play, behavioral rehearsal, reinforcement, feedback, and homework practice.

Choice of treatment settings

Most treatment-seeking persons with social anxiety are treated in outpatient settings since they are often employed or engaged in other activities despite their anxiety. In-patient setting may be considered only when patient has other comorbid conditions, such as severe depression.

Efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy in social anxiety disorder

Among the various interventions, individual CBT appears to have the largest effect size for the treatment of SAD.[52] The most frequently examined components of CBT for SAD include exposure therapies, cognitive restructuring (with and without exposure), applied relaxation, and SST. Exposure alone or in combination with cognitive restructuring has demonstrated the greatest effect sizes among the various components of CBT, and other components when incorporated with exposure result in significant changes in symptoms. Studies examining SST and its efficacy in SAD indicate that little evidence for SST alone in SAD.[53] However, social skills, in combination with exposure, are reported to yield larger effect sizes than exposure alone.[54] The recommendations for psychological intervention components of CBT are shown in Table 14.

Third-wave behavior therapies and other psychological approaches for social anxiety disorder

There is limited but emerging evidence for newer therapeutic approaches, within CBT such as ACT and mindfulness-based interventions, as well as for manualized psychodynamic psychotherapy and interpersonal therapy. Therapeutic components in each of these approaches have been modified for social anxiety. These also incorporate strategies similar to self-exposure, restructuring of beliefs regarding self and skills training. Hence, it may be difficult to ascertain exact mechanisms that result in improvement with these therapies.

Variants in delivery and format of cognitive behavioral therapy

Attempts to deliver CBT in varying formats have been reported. These include cognitive behavioral group therapy (CBGT), brief CBT and internet-delivered CBT (ICBT), and VRE therapy (VRET).

Rapee and Heimberg's cognitive behavioral group therapy (CBGT) model has been examined widely.[48] Reviews comparing individual CBT with group CBT report that both are equally effective in reducing levels of social anxiety. There is a paucity of evidence for the efficacy of brief CBT; however, preliminary evidence suggests that this may be a promising approach.[55]

Internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy

In a review of over 21 studies, of both guided and unguided ICBT for SAD, substantial reductions in social anxiety were noted, with larger within-group effect sizes and long-term gains from 3 months to 5 years.[56] However, ICBT may not be equally beneficial in all patients with SAD and careful screening of patients is important. It must be noted that control groups have been largely waitlist groups. A systematic review comparing ICBT with face-to-face therapy found that the two modes of CBT delivery were equally effective for SAD.[57]

Virtual reality for social anxiety disorder

Virtual reality is an emerging CBT component for SAD. It offers opportunities for exposure to interactions and other situations, under simulated conditions. Generalization from virtual reality to actual social situations may be a challenge when in vivo exposure and homework are not planned. Studies on virtual reality for social anxiety additionally indicate that VRET alone is not as effective as compared to individual in vivo exposure therapy or virtual reality that combines actual social interactions. A meta-analysis of technology-based interventions for SAD, including VRET, ICBT, and cognitive bias modification, indicated that both ICBT and VRET show promise in reducing symptoms of SAD and that ICBT had an advantage over active control conditions.[58]

Other therapeutic approaches and third-wave therapies

MCT[59] employs strategies such as detached mindfulness, attentional control training, and metacognitive Socratic dialog in addition to classic CBT. Evidence for its efficacy and superiority over traditional CBT is limited. It may be helpful in addressing metacognitions.[60]

When to stop treatment

Termination of active sessions in CBT is determined by the reduction in symptoms, rated on measures of anxiety, avoidance.[61] Active sessions may be terminated when the patient reports improvement on both self-report and clinician-assessed measures. It is recommended that at the start of the therapy, the therapist and patient collaboratively discuss the goals of therapy and expected realistic outcomes. Unlike in other anxiety disorders, complete extinction of anxiety is unlikely in SAD. This is particularly true when patients have generalized social anxiety and/or AAPD.

Guidance for maintenance and follow-up

Relapse prevention is an essential component of CBT for SAD. Due to the nature of SAD, continued practice of exposure is recommended. Maintenance of gains is determined by how prepared the patient is to deal with future situations of anxiety. Hence, during the phase of termination, the patient and therapist discuss and prepare a blueprint of what to expect after termination of active sessions and the importance of reduced avoidance. Booster sessions may be planned collaboratively to enhance consolidation and continued learning for specific skills. Studies on CBT suggest maintenance of gains in social anxiety up to a year following therapy.

OBSESSIVE–COMPULSIVE DISORDER

OCD is a disabling psychiatric disorder characterized by the presence of obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are repetitive intrusive and often unwanted thoughts, images, or urges, which are associated with anxiety or distress. Patients with OCD perform repetitive and often ritualistic behaviors and/or mental acts to decrease the anxiety/distress associated with obsessions. The current classificatory systems recognize that insight of patients regarding the irrationality or excessiveness of their symptoms may vary from good to poor to delusional.

OCD has a lifetime prevalence of 1%–3%.[62] Untreated OCD often runs a chronic waxing and waning course. OCD is often comorbid with other conditions such as mood, anxiety, and personality disorders, as well as childhood-onset neuropsychiatric conditions such as tic disorders and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Further, obsessive–compulsive spectrum conditions such as BDD and hoarding disorder are often underrecognized comorbidities. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors and/or CBT are the first-line treatments for OCD.[63]

Assessment

After establishing a diagnosis of OCD, a detailed evaluation of clinical profile is necessary before initiating therapy. It is essential to identify psychiatric comorbidities including mood, anxiety, and personality disorders, which might require separate attention and also help the therapist readjust the course of therapy accordingly. It would be helpful to assess various facets of illness, including severity, nature of obsessions/compulsions, extent of avoidance, and family accommodation. Assessment of underlying constructs such as obsessive beliefs, sensory phenomena, and disgust sensitivity may help readjust therapy in certain circumstances. Structured instruments for assessing OCD are summarized in Table 15. Behavioral analysis of symptoms [Table 16] aids in understanding the symptoms from a behavioral perspective and thus aids in planning therapy.

Formulating a treatment plan

Before starting CBT, it is important to discuss an individualized CBT model for OCD, therapeutic techniques involved, expected frequency/number/duration of sessions, need to tolerate anxiety as a part of treatment, need for homework compliance, and involvement of family members, if required.

Different CBT models have been proposed for OCD. The earlier two-stage behavioral model, based on learning theory, explains the acquisition of obsessive fears through classical conditioning, while avoidance/compulsions maintain the fears through operant conditioning. More recent cognitive models explain obsessions as normal cognitive intrusions, which are misinterpreted as threatening by patients with OCD due to certain underlying beliefs. These obsessive beliefs, such as exaggerated threat perception, inflated responsibility, need for perfection/certainty, thought-action fusion, and over-importance of thoughts and need to control thoughts, may be secondary to individualistic factors such as early life experiences, personality traits, and critical life incidents.

The cornerstone of OCD therapy has been exposure and response prevention (ERP), which involves graded exposure to the obsession triggers while preventing compulsive rituals and avoidance until the anxiety gradually wanes off. The principle behind ERP is the extinction of conditioned fear response through habituation and disconfirmation of underlying beliefs/assumptions. ERP also helps patients gain self-efficacy through mastery of fears without having to rely on avoidance or compulsions. Recent models emphasize on inhibitory learning paradigm.[79] Purely cognitive interventions without behavioral techniques are also sometimes employed. The CBT model for OCD is depicted in Figure 7. The components of CBT for OCD are summarized in Table 17. Steps involved in CBT are shown in Figure 8.

Therapy should be planned based on a personalized formulation constructed around the symptoms and identified cognitive distortions/beliefs. A collaborative understanding of the formulation with the patient is essential before starting intervention.

Choice of treatment settings

CBT for OCD is generally provided on an outpatient basis as individual therapy. Typical CBT package is delivered over 2–3 months of 2–3 sessions a week for around 15–20 sessions.

Access to trained therapists and time constraints are major barriers in the Indian setting. Recent developments such as ICBT or computer-delivered CBT decrease direct therapist contact, and the therapy can be delivered in the home atmosphere. The principles of CBT are similar to that of office-based CBT, but the major part of the intervention is done by logging to a website and administering online self-help material. Periodic therapist contact (online or telephonic) may be necessary to improve outcomes and prevent dropouts in internet-based therapy.[80] Notwithstanding promising results from uncontrolled trials, there is limited evidence in the form of well-controlled trials. Moreover, this mode of intervention has not been evaluated in the Indian setting.

Intensive residential treatment (IRT) is a form of in-patient treatment for OCD, which is generally provided for severe and treatment-resistant patients, who do not respond to outpatient treatment. It is a multidimensional treatment that involves elements of medication management, intensive behavioral therapy, milieu support, and sometimes group therapy. The CBT sessions are more intensive with close supervision of ERP by a multidisciplinary team of trained therapists. Exposure tasks are facilitated by addressing therapeutic milieu and family accommodation.

Efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy in obsessive–compulsive disorder

CBT involving ERP has been consistently shown to be efficacious in the treatment of OCD.[81] All treatment guidelines, including Indian guidelines, recommend CBT as a first-line treatment for OCD.[63] When therapists are available, CBT/ERP may be attempted as monotherapy in mild-to-moderately severe OCD. Severely ill patients may require a combination of CBT and an Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI). CBT is the first-line augmenting strategy for partial/nonresponders to SSRIs.[82]

A recent meta-analysis did not find significant difference in efficacy between individual and group therapy.[83] However, group therapy unlike individual CBT has not been evaluated in large well-controlled studies.

With regard to IRT, uncontrolled studies from different centers have shown improvement in 50%–70% of predominantly treatment-resistant samples. A meta-analysis of 19 IRT studies involving 2306 participants found a mean reduction of 10.7 (9.8–11.5) points in Yale-Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), with a large effect size of 1.87.[84] There is evidence to suggest that the improvement may persist up to 6 months postdischarge.[8586] However, difficulty in obtaining suitable controls precludes gathering higher level of evidence for this intervention.

A recent innovation is the Bergen 4-day concentrated exposure treatment, which involves concentrated exposure-based therapy over a 4-day period for groups consisting of 3–6 patients, by the same number of therapists. The therapy is described as “individual treatment delivered in a group setting” and is found to be highly efficacious in uncontrolled studies.[87]

Family interventions targeting family accommodation and aimed at improving family functioning have been found to be helpful in reducing symptoms of OCD.[88] Thus, family involvement in therapy has to be encouraged, especially in those with high family accommodation.

Inference-based approach to therapy is more or less a cognitive model. It presumes that obsessive doubts arise from inferences about reality made based on an internal narrative, which is remote from empirically available sensory information. This leads to an incorrect interpretation of a distant possibility as reality, while compulsions result from acting as if the possibility is true. Therapy targets insight through reality reorientation by staying in touch with sensory information. Two controlled trials have shown efficacy comparable to CBT.[89] There is a need for larger trials, especially in those with poor insight.

Third-wave therapies such as ACT and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy are yet to be tested in controlled trials. Stress management, relaxation training, and psychodynamic therapies have scant evidence as standalone treatments for OCD. The role of pharmacological augmenters of CBT, such as d-cycloserine, is yet to be established.

The treatment recommendations for psychological interventions for OCD are summarized in Table 18.

When to stop treatment

The decision for termination of therapy should be made based on the progress in relation to collaboratively arrived goals at the initiation of therapy. It is important to periodically monitor symptoms for the improvement and plateauing of response. While evidence suggests that full remission at the end of treatment predicts long-term outcomes,[90] it might be a utopian goal in many patients with OCD. Therapy may be terminated based on a realistic goal, when most of the planned targets are achieved, with plans for booster sessions as required. Preparation for termination of therapy should be done in advance, addressing issues such as need for continued exposure, homework tasks, stress management, relapse prevention, and optimizing functional outcomes.

Guidance for maintenance and follow-up

Although there is evidence to suggest that relapse rates are less following CBT as compared to medication discontinuation, posttherapy relapse occurs in at least 20% of patients. Factors such as lower initial severity of illness, remission at the end of treatment, absence of comorbidities, more intensive CBT, and better homework compliance predict long-term success.[91] A plan for relapse prevention plan is imperative before termination. Most CBT trials have included patients on medications. The long-term outcome of these patients without medications is not clear. Thus, medications may have to be continued over long term to prevent relapses, especially when CBT is provided as an augmentation treatment. Relapse prevention programs have been found helpful.[92] Relapse prevention programs include psychoeducation, self-exposure, stress/anxiety management, and lifestyle modification. Booster sessions with telephonic/direct contact may be planned with gradually tapering during follow-up.

BODY DYSMORPHIC DISORDER

BDD is a disabling psychiatric condition characterized by exaggerated and persistent preoccupation with perceived defects or flaws in one's appearance.[2]

BDD is currently listed under OCRDs Chapter of DSM-5[2] and the ICD-11.[3] Patients with BDD perform repetitive behaviors such as repeated mirror-gazing, exaggerated grooming behaviors, reassurance-seeking, or cognitive acts in response to appearance preoccupations. DSM-5 has an insight specifier, which helps clinicians to identify patients with BDD with poor insight, without having them assigned to a diagnosis of delusional disorder. DSM-5 also has a specifier for muscle dysmorphia. Major depressive disorder, SAD, and substance use disorders are common comorbid conditions in BDD. Suicide risk is high in BDD. The prevalence rates of BDD among both adult and adolescent populations is around 2%, and it is more common among females.[93]

Assessment

The BDD version of the YBOCS (BDD-YBOCS) is considered the gold standard measure of BDD symptom severity, and this instrument has been used as the principal outcome measure in various clinical trials.[94] The BDD-YBOCS is a 12-item semi-structured, clinician-administered scale, which records BDD symptom severity over the past week. It is sensitive to changes with treatment and has good psychometric properties. The BDD Questionnaire is a brief self-report screening instrument with good psychometric properties.[95]

Formulating a treatment plan

The literature extends the best support for the use of CBT as the primary treatment for BDD.[96] The other evidence-based treatment includes pharmacotherapy with serotonin reuptake inhibitors, as in OCD.[96]

Biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors in the development and persistence of BDD symptoms have been considered and incorporated into the CBT models of BDD.[9798] These models explain that persons with BDD exhibit selective attention over minor features of appearance, instead of paying attention to a larger picture. They also over-estimate the importance of perceived physical deformities/deficits (ascribing greater value to these flaws). Patients may also misinterpret small flaws as major personal concerns. It is theorized that self-defeating explanations result in the development of negative feelings, which in turn are neutralized with rituals such as repeated mirror-gazing and seeking cosmetic surgery. Further, they avoid social situations to minimize perceived negative evaluation. These behaviors are thought to be negatively reinforced since they result in temporary reduction of anxiety culminating in maladaptive beliefs and poor coping methods. The CBT model for BDD is depicted in Figure 9.

CBT for BDD starts with detailed assessment of symptoms. This is followed by psychoeducation where explanations for the symptoms are provided with individualized presentation of the CBT model. The subsequent components include cognitive restructuring, exposure, and ritual and relapse prevention. Certain CBT models also include a component of perceptual retraining to address mirror-related behaviors. The components of CBT for BDD are elaborated in Table 19.

Efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy in body dysmorphic disorder

RCTs in adult participants have demonstrated efficacy of CBT in reducing BDD symptom severity as compared to waitlist controls as well as other nonspecific interventions, such as anxiety management and supportive psychotherapy.[99100101] A naturalistic 1–4-year follow-up of participants in an RCT found that the gains made at the end of CBT sessions were sustained in the long term.[102] More recently, internet-based therapist-assisted CBT has also be systematically tested and found to be useful in this condition.[103] There have been no consistent response predictors of response to CBT, but greater motivation, greater expectation from treatment, as well as better insight at the baseline may predict improvement with CBT.[104] Overall, based on the available evidence, CBT has strength of recommendation level A for BDD.

BODY-FOCUSED REPETITIVE BEHAVIORS: TRICHOTILLOMANIA AND SKIN-PICKING DISORDER

Trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder) is a disorder of repetitive pulling out of one's own hair, while skin-picking disorder is characterized by recurrent picking of one's own skin. These conditions are often subsumed under a common rubric “BFRBs.” DSM-5[2] and ICD-11[3] have included trichotillomania and excoriation (skin-picking) disorder within the OCRDs. Trichotillomania has a prevalence of 1%–3% across studies conducted in different populations.[105] Its prevalence is four times greater among women compared to men. There are no well-conducted prevalence studies for excoriation disorder. However, the limited existing studies report a prevalence estimate of 1%–4% for distressing excoriation conditions.[106] Anxiety disorders and depression are frequent comorbidities.

Scalp is the most common location for hair-pulling in trichotillomania followed by the eyebrows. Hair-pulling may be preceded by various triggers, including sensory (e.g., sensations on the scalp), mood-related (anxiety, boredom, anger), and cognitive (rigidity in thinking/cognitive errors) stimuli. However, some patients report that they are not “aware” of hair-pulling, and this is referred to as “automatic” hair-pulling. About 5%–20% of individuals with trichotillomania engage in trichophagia (ingestion of hair). This may rarely lead to a gastric medical complication called trichobezoar. In excoriation disorder, the sufferers experience repeated and compulsive urges to remove certain alterations in the areas with acne, scars, and scabs.[107] The regions of excoriation may vary. Generally, multiple areas of the body that are easily accessible (face, extensor surface of the arms, and fingers) are targets.

Assessment

A summary of instruments available for the assessment of hair-pulling and skin-picking have been provided by Jones et al.[108] Massachusetts General Hospital Hair Pulling Scale (MGH-HPS) is generally recommended for measuring the severity of hair-pulling disorder.[109] The MGH-HPS is a 7-item self-report scale that measures urge to pull hair, amount of pulling, control over the behavior, and the associated distress over the previous 7 days. The Keuthen Diagnostic Inventory for Skin Picking for DSM-5 has been recommended as a quick tool to measure the severity of skin-picking.[108] Since anxiety disorders, depression, and OCD are commonly seen comorbid with trichotillomania and excoriation disorder, it is important to systematically assess for the presence of these conditions. Functional analysis of the pulling behavior helps to identify antecedent triggers (may be external and/or internal) and consequences (positive or negative reinforcement) following hair-pulling behavior.

Cognitive behavioral therapy for body-focused repetitive behaviors

Although the evidence is relatively limited compared to the other disorders discussed above, CBT is often recommended as a first-line treatment for both trichotillomania and skin-picking disorder. Behavioral techniques are more commonly employed. In particular, habit reversal therapy (HRT) is the most commonly prescribed technique. The components of HRT are elaborated in Table 20.

Efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy in body-focused repetitive behaviors

Multiple RCTs support the efficacy of HRT for trichotillomania, while there are few studies on skin-picking disorder too.[110] HRT has been administered in different frequency formats, ranging from 4 to 20 sessions. Dialectical behavioral augmented CBT[112] and ACT[113] have been tested in single RCTs each. Dialectical approaches may help in augmenting HRT. The components of this approach include mindfulness training where patients are encouraged to experiences the urges/emotions associated as they occur at the moment, inculcating necessary skills for emotion regulation and build distress tolerance. ACT may also be used similarly as a component in the context of HRT, whereby the patient is explained to experience hair-pulling urges and accept those urges without having to act on them.

Similar strategies are suggested for excoriation disorder also.[114] Skin-picking disorder, being a recently recognized diagnostic entity, has been less studied less extensively. HRT has been found to be useful for skin-picking disorder in a limited number of RCTs, while ACT has been tested only in uncontrolled studies. The recommendations for OCRD are summarized in Table 21.

SUMMARY

CBT is a first-line treatment for most anxiety disorders and obsessive–compulsive-related disorders. It has also been found to be helpful in those with inadequate response to medications. Despite similarity of certain techniques such as exposure and cognitive restructuring, individual disorders have different CBT models, which have been tested and proven to be effective. For some disorders, such as specific phobia and BFRB, primarily behavioral techniques have been found to be helpful. While graded exposure is helpful in the former, habit reversal is recommended for the later. Individual face-to-face therapy has been the most rigorously tested, but group therapy also has been found effective in many conditions. Self-help therapy, such as internet-based therapy, may be helpful, especially when used with intermittent therapist guidance. Exposure using virtual reality, augmentation with mindfulness, and emotional regulation strategies are exciting and emerging strategies for augmenting the effects of CBT.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.