Evaluation Of The Hamburg Version of Concentrated Exposure Therapy for People With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Evaluation Of The Hamburg Version of Concentrated Exposure Therapy for People With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: a Randomized Controlled Trial - HERO (Hamburg concentrated Exposure and Response Prevention treatment for OCD)

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

DRKS

Registry ID

DRKS00034236

Enrollment

120

Registered

2024-05-08

Start date

2024-05-09

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2026-04-27

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

F42

Interventions

Group 1: Concentrated exposure treatment (cET): cET includes two pre-treatment sessions (preparation) and 4 consecutive treatment days, which are conducted in a group of ca. 4 patients by the same num

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

18 Years to 75 Years

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: • Diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (ICD-10: F 42) • 18 to 75 years of age Willingness and consent to participate in the study (informed consent) • Stable psychopharmacological treatment before treatment start

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: • Acute suicidality • Impaired intelligence • Psychotic symptoms (incl. schizophrenia and bipolar disorder) • Autism • Substance dependence • Insufficient German language skills • Contraindication for in vivo exposure (e.g. cardiological contrindications) • Neurological disorders that can trigger secondary compulsions

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS): The Y-BOCS is an external rating for the assessment of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The primary endpoint is the change from before treatment (t0) to follow-up (t3).	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS): The Y-BOCS is an external rating for the assessment of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Response to treatment and remission rates are also measured with the Y-BOCS. Therefore, in addition to the time points for the primary endpoint, the Y-BOCS is also carried out at t1, t2 and t4. Patient Questionnaire on Therapy Expectation and Evaluation (PATHEV): The PATHEV measures hope for improvement and fear of change with regard to therapy (t0, t1). Obsessive Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R): The OCI-R records changes in self-reported obsessive-compulsive symptoms over different time points (t0, t1, t2, t3, t4). Obsessive-Beliefs-Questionnaire (OBQ-44): The OBQ-44 measures changes in obsessive-compulsive dysfunctional beliefs (t0, t1, t2, t3). Patients Health Questionnaire-Depression (PHQ-9): The PHQ-9 is used to measure depression (t0, t1, t2, t3, t4). Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES): The RSES measures changes in self-esteem (t0, t1, t2, t3). WHO Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQoL-Bref): The WHOQoL-Bref examines changes in quality of life. We only use the global item (t0, t1, t2, t3, t4). Brief Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire (BEAQ): The BEAQ is a self-report questionnaire and measures changes in experiential avoidance and psychological flexibility (t0, t1, t2, t3). Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF): The GAF assesses the general level of functioning. (t0, t1, t2, t3, t4) Intolerance of Uncertainty (IUS-12): The IUS-12 is a self-report questionnaire and measures changes in intolerance of uncertainty over different time points (t0, t1, t2, t3). Readiness to change questionnaire (FEVER): The FEVER is a self-assessment questionnaire and measures readiness to change (t0, t1, t2, t3). Valued Living Questionnaire (VLQ): The VLQ examines values and constraints through compulsion in value-based action across different time points (t0, t1, t2, t3, t4). General Self-Efficacy Short Scale (ASKU): The ASKU i	—

Measure

Time frame

Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS): The Y-BOCS is an external rating for the assessment of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Response to treatment and remission rates are also measured with the Y-BOCS. Therefore, in addition to the time points for the primary endpoint, the Y-BOCS is also carried out at t1, t2 and t4. Patient Questionnaire on Therapy Expectation and Evaluation (PATHEV): The PATHEV measures hope for improvement and fear of change with regard to therapy (t0, t1). Obsessive Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R): The OCI-R records changes in self-reported obsessive-compulsive symptoms over different time points (t0, t1, t2, t3, t4). Obsessive-Beliefs-Questionnaire (OBQ-44): The OBQ-44 measures changes in obsessive-compulsive dysfunctional beliefs (t0, t1, t2, t3). Patients Health Questionnaire-Depression (PHQ-9): The PHQ-9 is used to measure depression (t0, t1, t2, t3, t4). Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES): The RSES measures changes in self-esteem (t0, t1, t2, t3). WHO Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQoL-Bref): The WHOQoL-Bref examines changes in quality of life. We only use the global item (t0, t1, t2, t3, t4). Brief Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire (BEAQ): The BEAQ is a self-report questionnaire and measures changes in experiential avoidance and psychological flexibility (t0, t1, t2, t3). Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF): The GAF assesses the general level of functioning. (t0, t1, t2, t3, t4) Intolerance of Uncertainty (IUS-12): The IUS-12 is a self-report questionnaire and measures changes in intolerance of uncertainty over different time points (t0, t1, t2, t3). Readiness to change questionnaire (FEVER): The FEVER is a self-assessment questionnaire and measures readiness to change (t0, t1, t2, t3). Valued Living Questionnaire (VLQ): The VLQ examines values and constraints through compulsion in value-based action across different time points (t0, t1, t2, t3, t4). General Self-Efficacy Short Scale (ASKU): The ASKU i

—

Countries

Germany

Contacts

Public ContactLena Jelinek

Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf

l.jelinek@uke.de+49 40 7410-58087

Outcome results

None listed

Source: DRKS (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: May 1, 2026