The efficacy of emotion regulation therapy on the severity of obsessive symptoms, disgust propensity, and cognitive-executive functions in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder

Background and Aim: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a debilitating mental health condition characterized by repetitive thoughts and behaviors. This study aimed to assess the impact of emotion regulation therapy on the severity of obsessive symptoms, disgust propensity, and cognitive-executive functions in patients with OCD. Methods: This clinical trial included two groups: an experimental group receiving emotion regulation therapy in addition to medication, and a control group receiving only medication. A total of 48 patients with OCD were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to each group (24 individuals per group). Assessment tools included the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, Disgust Propensity Scale, Iowa Task, Wisconsin Card Sorting Task, and Stroop Color-Word Task. The experimental group received the emotion regulation therapy along with medication while the control group just received medication. Results: Following the intervention, the experimental group exhibited a significant decrease in obsessive symptoms severity, and disgust propensity compared to the control group. Additionally, the experimental group demonstrated enhanced cognitive-executive functions (reduced risk-taking behavior, improved inhibition, greater psychological flexibility, and enhanced problem-solving abilities) than the control group. Conclusion: Emotion regulation therapy was found to effectively reduce obsessive symptoms severity, disgust propensity, and improve cognitive-executive functions in patients with OCD.