Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help religious OCD

Efficacy of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Religiously Oriented Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

NA · University of Alabama at Birmingham · NCT06647589

This project will try Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to see if it helps adults with religiously focused OCD.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment10 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham (other)
Locations1 site (Birmingham, Alabama)
Trial IDNCT06647589 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

Adults (18+) who meet a scrupulosity cutoff will receive Acceptance and Commitment Therapy delivered at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in a single-site, open-label intervention. The study will measure changes in religious OCD symptom severity, feasibility outcomes, and safety using standard symptom scales and clinical interviews. People with recent psychosis, active suicidal intent, recent non-suicidal self-injury, recent narcotics use, or recent purging/restricting behaviors are excluded. The aim is to see whether ACT techniques for acceptance, mindfulness, and values-based action reduce distress and compulsive rituals tied to religious obsessions.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults (18+) with clinically significant scrupulosity who can attend in-person sessions and do not have recent psychosis, active suicidal intent, recent narcotics use, or recent self-harm or eating-disorder behaviors.

Not a fit: People with recent psychosis, current suicidal or homicidal intent, recent non-suicidal self-injury, recent narcotics use, or recent purging/restricting may be excluded and are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, ACT could reduce distress and compulsive behaviors tied to religious obsessions and offer a non-medication psychotherapy option.

How similar studies have performed: ACT has shown promise in prior research for OCD and related anxiety disorders, but targeted evidence specifically for scrupulosity is limited.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* 18 years old
* Meet cutoff scores for scrupulosity

Exclusion Criteria:

* Presence of psychotic symptoms within six months of screening
* Current suicidal/homicidal plan/intent and/or a suicide/homicide attempt within 6 months of screening
* Non-suicidal self-injury within 6 months of screening
* Narcotics use within 3 months of screening
* Purging/restricting behavior within 3 months of screening.

Where this trial is running

Birmingham, Alabama

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, scrupulosity, religion, acceptance and commitment therapy, obsessive-compulsive disorder, 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.