A recent study in the Journal of Clinical Psychology sought to examine how OCD obsessions related to religious or moral fears impacted on individual's selection of treatment providers, their day-to-day religious experiences and conceptions of God.  In this study, 72 individuals with scrupulous OCD and 72 individuals with non-scrupulous OCD completed an online survey.  Overall, the investigators found that severity of symptoms was equal across the two groups.  Perhaps unsurprisingly, the individuals with scrupulous OCD were more religious, more likely to seek pastoral counseling, less likely to seek medication treatment, and more likely to report that symptoms interfered with their religious experience.  Among individuals with scrupulous OCD, the more negative the concept of God held by the individual, the more severe their symptoms. Interestingly, about 20% of the sample with scrupulous OCD did not report any specific religious affiliation.

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Although selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can be helpful in reducing the intensity and frequency of OCD symptoms in children, many cases of pediatric OCD are only partially responsive to medication.  As such, a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association sought to examine whether adding CBT to standard medical treatment with SSRIs improved outcomes in individuals ages 7 to 17 with OCD.   Using a randomized control design the investigators found that the addition of CBT to the standard medication protocol yielded a significantly better response rate than medication alone.

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Like all forms of mental illness, symptoms of OCD are often triggered or exacerbated by stressful events. A recent study in the Israel Journal of Psychiatric and Related Sciences sought to examine the relationship between OCD symptoms and stressful events.  Comparing people with and without OCD, this investigation found that life events were significantly more frequent in OCD patients, as compared to healthy controls. Importantly, the severity of OCD symptoms was directly proportional to the number of stressful life events experienced in the last six months prior to symptom onset.  As this study was correlational, it difficult to make statements about causation.  Indeed, it is possible that the onset of OCD symptoms may cause stressful live events to occur (e.g., missing work; difficulties in relationships), and hence the relationship.

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It is an unfortunate reality that OCD is often accompanied by major depressive disorder. This is clinically significant as the presence of symptoms of depression can often hamper successful OCD treatment.  A recent study in the Journal of Affective Disorders sought to examine the impact of symptoms of depression on long-term outcomes in OCD treatment.  Interestingly, the authors found that symptoms of depression were not predictive of treatment for up to 5 years of follow-up. In addition, it was found that OCD symptoms largely predicted changes in depressive symptoms but not the other way around. Based on these results, the authors of the study suggest that treatment for OCD with co-morbid depression should focus primarily on alleviating symptoms of OCD, the theory being that if OCD treatment is successful symptoms of depression are also likely to improve.