Brief culturally adapted cognitive behavioral therapy for OCD

Brief Culturally Adapted Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CaCBT) for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Randomised Controlled Trial From Pakistan

NA · Pakistan Association of Cognitive Therapists · NCT07232823

This program will try a short, culturally adapted form of cognitive behavioral therapy to help adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment166 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 65 Years
SexAll
SponsorPakistan Association of Cognitive Therapists (other)
Locations1 site (Lahore, Punjab Province)
Trial IDNCT07232823 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This interventional project delivers a brief, manualized form of culturally adapted CBT (Ca-CBT) to adults diagnosed with OCD at a center in Lahore, Pakistan. Participants must be 18 or older, literate at an elementary level, and may have comorbid depression or anxiety, while those with active psychosis, significant cognitive impairment, or substance dependence are excluded. Treatment is shortened and adapted to local culture and delivered by trained therapists, with symptom severity and functioning measured before and after the intervention using standardized clinical scales. The aim is to determine whether this brief, locally tailored CBT reduces OCD symptoms and is feasible to deliver in a low- to middle-income setting.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults aged 18 or older with a clinical diagnosis of OCD who can read and write at an elementary level and do not have active psychosis, significant cognitive impairment, or alcohol/drug dependence are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People with active psychosis, significant cognitive impairment (for example dementia or intellectual disability), or current alcohol or drug dependence are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide a shorter, culturally appropriate CBT option that reduces OCD symptoms and is easier to deliver in low-resource settings.

How similar studies have performed: Standard CBT has strong evidence for treating OCD and preliminary work suggests culturally adapted CBT can work in non-Western settings, but rigorous trials in low- and middle-income countries remain limited.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Participants aged 18 years or above
* Participants with at least an elementary level of reading and writing
* Clinical diagnosis of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, either alone or comorbid with depression or anxiety

Exclusion Criteria:

* Participants with excessive use of alcohol or drugs (using ICD-10 RDC for alcohol or drug abuse or dependence)
* Those with significant cognitive impairment (for example, intellectual disability or dementia)
* Or those with OCD comorbid active psychosis

Where this trial is running

Lahore, Punjab Province

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, CBT, CaCBT, OCD

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.