The OCD Project: Educational or sensational?
RIS ID
100725
Abstract
Ninety-two young adults were randomly assigned to watch two episodes of The OCD Project, a reality television program depicting the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder using exposure therapy, or two episodes of another reality television program (Big Brother). Participants in The OCD Project condition (n = 35) endorsed significantly fewer negative beliefs about exposure therapy than participants in the Big Brother condition (n = 42). Participants' obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms did not moderate the beneficial effects of watching The OCD Project. These results provide preliminary evidence that reality television programs can have a modest psychoeducational benefit and might be used to change attitudes about mental health problems and their treatment.
Publication Details
Miller, L. M., Deacon, B. J. & Valentiner, D. P. (2015). The OCD Project: Educational or sensational?. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy: an international quarterly, 29 (2), 116-122.