Cognitive Checking Intervention for Maladaptive Beliefs About Memory

May 14, 2026 updated by: Gillian Alcolado, University of Manitoba

Increasing Memory Confidence: A Novel Intervention for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

A small (N = 24) pilot study developed a new and brief cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) module for checking symptoms (CBT-C) in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). CBT-C targets maladaptive beliefs about memory and results show that it is effective at significantly decreasing checking symptoms as compared to a waitlist control. The objectives of the current investigation are to further investigate CBT-C by (1) replicating the pilot results in a larger sample; (2) using an active control condition (treatment as usual) as the comparison condition (3) including a 6-month follow-up, and (4) determining whether the association between maladaptive beliefs about memory at pre-treatment assessment are related to degree of checking symptom reduction following CBT-C. The findings of the study will have theoretical significance in adding to our understanding of the maladaptive belief domains relevant to the development and maintenance of OCD and supporting the cognitive model of compulsive checking. The relevant clinical significance is the further development of an intervention that could improve outcomes in treatment of persons with OCD. The key practical outcome of the research would be to add a stepped care offering to patients with OCD.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Terminated

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
23

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Canada
    • Manitoba
      • Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R2H2A6
        • St. Boniface Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Adult over the age of 18 living in the province of Manitoba, Canada.
  • Diagnosis of OCD with clinically significant levels of compulsive checking (i.e., able to meet the diagnostic criteria for OCD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition based solely on checking symptoms. Other OCD symptoms may be present and checking does not need to be the primary symptom.)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Active psychosis
  • Active Mania
  • Presence of a substance use disorder that would interfere with participation in the treatment

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: CBT for Maladaptive Beliefs about Memory
Using cognitive-behavioural therapy principles, this therapy is intended to examine and change maladaptive beliefs about memory as they pertain to compulsive checking.
Behavioral: CBT for Maladaptive Beliefs about Memory
The novel intervention is a manualized 2-session cognitive behavioural therapy. Agenda elements, including psycho-education, discussion prompts, and homework exercises are standardized across participants. In session 1, participants are taught about the cognitive theory of checking, the research support behind this theory, and how it may apply to their own checking behavior. A homework exercise is introduced and practiced to test out this theory. In session 2, the homework results are reviewed. Further education is shared on the nature of memory and the relationship to checking, and a discussion regarding how this applies to the participant's checking then takes place. A second homework exercise is introduced to test this theory.
Active Comparator: Treatment as Usual
This is a control treatment, Treatment as Usual (TAU), which is what patients or community members would otherwise normally receive.
Other: Treatment as Usual
Treatment as Usual (TAU) during patients' time on our waitlist in our clinic will depend on at what point they have been recruited. It may consist of a 2-session group psychoeducational intervention on anxiety, any medications prescribed by their referring physicians, and/or independent therapy/counseling they may be seeking on the side. TAU for community participants will include any treatments they are currently seeking. Information about participation in such interventions will be collected during the course of the study (at each assessment visit) in order to accurately characterize participants' TAU in the current study.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Vancouver Obsessional Compulsive Inventory - checking subscale (change)
Time Frame: Change in checking symptoms from pre-treatment to post-treatment at 3 weeks later
This six-item subscale of a self-report questionnaire measure assesses severity of checking-related OCD symptoms.
Change in checking symptoms from pre-treatment to post-treatment at 3 weeks later
Average time spent checking per week (change)
Time Frame: Change in average time spent checking from pre-treatment to post-treatment at 3 weeks later
Participants record their daily time spent checking in daily diary records while in the active phase of the study.
Change in average time spent checking from pre-treatment to post-treatment at 3 weeks later
Vancouver Obsessional Compulsive Inventory - checking subscale
Time Frame: Avarege time spent checking at 6-month follow-up
This six-item subscale of a self-report questionnaire measure assesses severity of checking-related OCD symptoms.
Avarege time spent checking at 6-month follow-up

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Beliefs about Memory Inventory (change)
Time Frame: Change in beliefs about memory from pre-treatment to post-treatment at 3 weeks later
Self-report questionnaire that assesses extent participant believes they have a bad memory.
Change in beliefs about memory from pre-treatment to post-treatment at 3 weeks later
Beliefs about Memory Inventory
Time Frame: Beliefs about memory at 6 month follow-up
Self-report questionnaire that assesses extent participant believes they have a bad memory.
Beliefs about memory at 6 month follow-up
Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire (change)
Time Frame: Change in obsessive beliefs from pre-treatment to post-treatment at 3 weeks later
Self-report questionnaire that assesses maladaptive belief domains known to be related to checking. The responsibility/threat subscale is of particular interest as it is known to be related to checking behaviour.
Change in obsessive beliefs from pre-treatment to post-treatment at 3 weeks later
Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire
Time Frame: Obsessive beliefs at 6-month follow-up
Self-report questionnaire that assesses maladaptive belief domains known to be related to checking. The responsibility/threat subscale is of particular interest as it is known to be related to checking behaviour.
Obsessive beliefs at 6-month follow-up

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Manitoba

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
January 4, 2018

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
July 28, 2023

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
July 28, 2023

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
July 27, 2017

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 1, 2017

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
August 7, 2017

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
May 19, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 14, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • H2017:142

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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