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RecruitingNCT06647589Updated Sep 28, 2026

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Religious OCD

An interventional study of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), sponsored by University of Alabama at Birmingham. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-28.

Sponsored by University of Alabama at Birmingham · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
10
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The purpose of the study is to examine the effects and feasibility of a specific form of psychotherapy, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), on religiously oriented obsessive and compulsive disorder (OCD).

02

Conditions studied

  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Keywords

  • scrupulosity
  • religion
  • acceptance and commitment therapy
  • obsessive-compulsive disorder
  • OCD
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • 18 years old
  • Meet cutoff scores for scrupulosity

Exclusion criteria

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.
04

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
10 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

    Participants will receive twelve consecutive weeks of acceptance and commitment therapy

    Behavioral: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Interventions

  • BehavioralAcceptance and Commitment Therapy

    participants will then receive ACT-based individual therapy weekly for twelve weeks.

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Scrupulosity Obsessions and Compulsions Scale

    The Scrupulosity Obsessions and Compulsions Scale (SOCS) is a 10-item scale that asks participants how often they experience religious OCD obsessions and compulsions. The questions are asked on a scale ranging from 0 (Very Rarely) to 5 (Very Often).

    Time frame: At baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and post-intervention (12 weeks)

  2. Experiential Avoidance Rating Scale

    The Experiential Avoidance Rating Scale (EARS) is a 6-item scale that asks participants how true statements about avoiding experiences are for them. The questions are asked on a scale ranging from 1 (Never True) to 5 (Very Often True).

    Time frame: At baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and post-intervention (12 weeks)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Centrality of Religiosity Scale - Interreligious 20

    The Centrality of Religiosity Scale - Interreligious 20 (CRSi-20) is a 20-item scale assessing religiosity across 5 dimensions (Intellect, Ideology, Public practice, Private practice, Experience). The questions are asked on scales ranging from Never to Several times a day, Never to Very often, and Not at all to Very much so.

    Time frame: Pre and post intervention which in general lasts 12 weeks

  2. Yale-Brown Obsessive and Compulsive Scale - Self Report

    The Yale-Brown Obsessive and Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) is a 12-item scale that asks participants whether they experience various OCD obsessions and compulsions. Participants are then asked how much time is spent on these obsessions and compulsions, whether they give in to the urge to perform compulsions, how strong the drive is to give in to compulsions, how they would feel if they were prevented from engaging in compulsions, and how much the compulsions and avoidance of compulsions interfere with their functioning.

    Time frame: Pre and post intervention which in general lasts 12 weeks

  3. Patient Health Questionnaire - 9

    The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) is a 9-item scale that asks participants how often they have been bothered by aspects of depressive symptoms. The questions are asked on a scale ranging from 0 (Not at all) to 5 (Nearly every day).

    Time frame: Pre and post intervention which in general lasts 12 weeks

  4. Generalized Anxiety Disorder - 7

    The Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) is a 7-item scale that asks participants how often they have been bothered by statements capturing aspects of anxiety. The questions are asked on a scale ranging from 0 (Not at all) to 3 (Nearly every day).

    Time frame: Pre and post intervention which in general lasts 12 weeks

  5. The Intrinsic Spirituality Scale

    The Intrinsic Spirituality Scale is a 6-item scale that asks participants about aspects of their spirituality.

    Time frame: Pre and post intervention which in general lasts 12 weeks

  6. Psy-Flex

    The Psyflex questionnaire is a 6-item scale that measures aspects of psychological flexibility. The questions are asked on a scale ranging from very seldom to often.

    Time frame: Pre and post intervention which in general lasts 12 weeks

  7. Almost Perfect Scale - Revised

    The Almost Perfect Scale - Revised is a 23-item scale that asks participants their agreement on items capturing perfectionism. The questions are asked on a scale ranging from 1 (Strongly disagree) to 7 (Strongly agree).

    Time frame: Pre and post intervention which in general lasts 12 weeks

  8. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test

    The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) is a 10-item scale that asks participants about their alcohol consumption.

    Time frame: Pre and post intervention which in general lasts 12 weeks

  9. National Institute on Drug Abuse Screener

    National Institute on Drug Abuse Screener (NIDA) is a 1-item scale that asks participants how often they use a variety of substances. The questions are asked on a scale ranging from Never to Daily or Almost Daily.

    Time frame: Pre and post intervention which in general lasts 12 weeks

06

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham
    Birmingham, Alabama 35233, United States
    Recruiting
07

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Yes

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT06647589
Lead sponsor
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Responsible party
David Johnson (Graduate Student, University of Alabama at Birmingham) — Principal investigator
First posted
Oct 18, 2024
Start date
Jul 30, 2025
Primary completion
Mar 1, 2027 (estimated)
Completion
Mar 1, 2027 (estimated)
Last update
Sep 28, 2026

Study contacts

David Johnson
Contact
dajohns4@uab.edu
8013891733
Nicholas Borgogna, PhD
Contact
borgogna@uab.edu
7579693677

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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