Fundamentals of Mental Health

Fundamentals of Mental Health

Investigating the effect of adding neurofeedback to the choice treatment (cognitive behavioral therapy and medication) on obsessive beliefs and early maladaptive schemas in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Negar Asgharipour 1
Elahe Haghighat-Manesh 2
Milad Shirkhani 3
Naeeme Dorri Mashhadi 4
1 Associate professor of clinical psychology, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
2 Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran.
3 MSc. in clinical psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
4 MSc. in clinical psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
10.22038/JFMH.2023.75095.3088
Abstract
Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the effects of adding Neurofeedback Therapy (NFT) to taking medication (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors: SSRIs) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) on Obsessive Beliefs (OBs) and Early Maladaptive Schemas (EMSs).
 
Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial conducted in Mashhad, Iran in 2019, 10 diagnosed OCD patients were selected using purposeful sampling. They were randomly assigned into equal two groups (group 1: NFT + SSRIs + CBT, group 2: SSRIs + CBT). They were evaluated using the Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire (OBQ) and Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (YSQ) before intervention, on the 8th session, after treatment, and a two-month follow-up. Repeated-measures ANOVA tests were used for statistical analysis.
 
Results: There was a significant time × intervention effect for all fifteen EMSs (P< 0.05) and three OBs (P< 0.05); however, significant time × condition interaction has been seen for responsibility/threat estimation belief (P< 0.05) and abandonment, defectiveness/shame, enmeshment/undeveloped self, insufficient self-control/self-discipline, mistrust/abuse, subjugation, and social isolation/alienation, and unrelenting standards schemas (P< 0.05). We found no significant difference between treatment groups in EMSs and OBs.
 
Conclusion: The results showed that both treatment plans are effective in the reduction of obsessive beliefs and early maladaptive schemas; however, adding neurofeedback to standard therapy has not resulted in significant differences in reducing obsessive beliefs and early maladaptive schemas in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Keywords
Cognitive-behavioral therapy
Neurofeedback therapy
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
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Fundamentals of Mental Health
Volume 26, Issue 1
2024
Pages 17-25