Obsessive Compulsive Treatment Efficacy Trial (OCTET)

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common problem affecting 13% of the population. OCD makes people anxious and unhappy, interferes with everyday activities such as working or looking after relatives and it costs patients, their families and the country a lot of money. OCD rarely improves without treatment. New treatment guidelines were developed by experts in 2005. These guidelines recommend that people with OCD receive a form of psychological help, or talking treatment, called cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). The guidelines suggest that this CBT might be delivered as a self help approach. In self help, CBT is delivered through a book or computer programme, with some guidance from a mental health professional. Guidance can be delivered over the telephone, by email or facetoface. However, we still do not know which method of self helpis most useful, or how useful they are compared to those on a waiting list for CBT. Our proposed study will test 2 different self help treatments for OCD. These are 1) computerised CBT (cCBT) using an internet delivered OCD treatment package called OCFighter, with email or telephone support from a mental health professional; and 2) a self help book which helps people to use CBT combined with facetoface, telephone or email support, from a mental health professional. This treatment is called guided self help. Both treatments will be delivered over a 12 week period. We want to see if the new treatments (cCBT and guided self help) are effective in the short and longer term. Our study will also find out how satisfied people are with the treatments and which they prefer. Finally, we will calculate the costs of each treatment to OCD sufferers, their families and the NHS.