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Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

Successfully treating 90 patients with obsessive compulsive disorder in eight days: the Bergen 4-day treatment

Authors: Gerd Kvale, Bjarne Hansen, Thröstur Björgvinsson, Tore Børtveit, Kristen Hagen, Svein Haseth, Unn Beate Kristensen, Gunvor Launes, Kerry J. Ressler, Stian Solem, Arne Strand, Odile A. van den Heuvel, Lars-Göran Öst

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2018

Abstract

Background

Oslo University Hospital, Norway, had by autumn 2016, accumulated a waiting list of 101 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) who had a legal right to receive treatment by a specialized OCD team. In this challenging situation, the Bergen OCD-team suggested to solve the problem by offering all patients an option for the rapid Bergen 4-day treatment (B4DT). The B4DT is an individual treatment delivered during four consecutive days in a group of six patients with the same number of therapists. The approach has previously shown a post-treatment response rate of 90% and a 3-month remission rate of 70%.

Methods

Ninety-seven of the wait-list patients were available for the scheduled time slots, and 90 received the 4-day format during 8 days (45 patients each week). The therapists were recruited from 22 different specialized OCD-teams from all over Norway, and 44 (68%) had not previously delivered the 4-day format.

Results

Post-treatment; 91.1% of the patients were classified as responders, and 72.2% were in remission. At 3-month follow-up; 84.4 were classified as responders and the remission rate was 67.7%. Oslo University Hospital now offers the 4-day treatment as standard treatment for OCD.

Conclusions

We conclude that the B4DT is an acceptable and potentially effective OCD-treatment.

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Title: Successfully treating 90 patients with obsessive compulsive disorder in eight days: the Bergen 4-day treatment
Authors: Gerd Kvale
Bjarne Hansen
Thröstur Björgvinsson
Tore Børtveit
Kristen Hagen
Svein Haseth
Unn Beate Kristensen
Gunvor Launes
Kerry J. Ressler
Stian Solem
Arne Strand
Odile A. van den Heuvel
Lars-Göran Öst
Publication date: 01-12-2018
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-018-1887-4

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Successfully treating 90 patients with obsessive compulsive disorder in eight days: the Bergen 4-day treatment

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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