How Do We Know What Works?

When choosing OCD treatments, research matters. High-quality controlled studies with large sample sizes provide the best evidence because they reduce bias and demonstrate whether a treatment truly works for most people with OCD.

We rely on the following types of research:

  1. Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)
    • What They Are: Participants are randomly assigned to a treatment group or a control group (like placebo or standard therapy).
    • Why it matters: RCTs are the gold standard of research because they minimize bias and prove the treatment itself caused improvement.
  2. Meta-Analyses
    • What They Are: A combination of results from multiple RCTs.
    • Why it matters: Meta-analyses provide a clear, big-picture view of a treatment’s effectiveness by analyzing data from many studies.
  3. Open Trials 
    • What They Are: Researchers assess people before and after they receive a specific, standardized treatment to measure outcomes.
    • Why they’re limited: These studies can’t prove that the treatment caused improvement since other factors—like time or the likability of the therapist—may play a role.
  4. Naturalistic Studies
  • What They Are: Treatment outcomes are assessed in people receiving treatments in non-standardized clinical settings.
  • Why They’re limited: These studies can’t prove that a specific treatment produced improvement because participants received varying types of treatment, and variables are not controlled.  
  1. Case Studies
  • What They Are: Detailed reports about one person’s treatment experience (also called “anecdotes”).
  • Why They’re Limited: Case studies focus on individuals, so what works for one person may not work for everyone.

Why Personal Experience Isn’t Scientific Evidence

It’s common to hear things like:

  • “This treatment worked for me — you should try it!”
  • “I’ve used this therapy with many patients, and they got better.”

While personal stories are meaningful, they don’t provide proof that a treatment works. Here’s why:

  • It’s one person’s story: What helped one person might not help others in the same way..
  • Hope and expectations matter: Believing a treatment will work can sometimes help people feel better, at least temporarily.
  • Bias happens: Therapists (and patients) may focus on their success stories and overlook times when the same treatment didn’t help.
  • Timing is tricky: OCD symptoms can naturally change over time, regardless of treatment.

That’s why we rely on rigorous research — studies that include many participants, use strict methods, and provide reliable results.