Mindfulness for OCD? No evidence for a direct effect of a self-help treatment approach

•We investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness training in patients with OCD.•In an online study the training is delivered as a self-help manual with audio files.•Patients found manual appropriate for self-administration.•No changes in depressiveness or OCD symptoms could be found at post-assessment.

Background and objectivesMany patients with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) go untreated due to a large treatment gap and fear of engaging in cognitive behavioral therapy. The present study investigated the effectiveness of mindfulness based training delivered as a bibliotherapeutic self-help approach, as an alternative and accessible intervention.MethodsEighty-seven participants with OCD anonymously completed an online baseline assessment that included measures of OCD and depression. Subsequently, they were randomly assigned to either mindfulness training or progressive muscle relaxation and received manuals accompanied by audio files. All participants were approached for reassessment six weeks later.ResultsNo changes on any of the scales could be found in either the experimental or control group at post-assessment, even though all participants exercising mindfulness found the manual to be useful.LimitationsDue to the mode of application, the study leaves open the possibility that mindfulness training is beneficial for OCD patients when delivered as a therapist guided intervention.ConclusionsThe effectiveness of mindfulness training as a self-help intervention was not supported in this study. Further work is needed to clarify whether mindfulness is feasible as a treatment for OCD.