The purpose of the present systematic review (SR) is to supplement the review of outcome predictors of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for patients with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), provided in 2008 in a review article by Keeley and associates, and to reduce any existing discrepancies in the findings from this field with current findings and thus provide a comprehensive overview of the outcome predictors of CBT with a potential of allowing development and use of modified and personalized CBT strategies in the treatment of OCD patients. We performed the SR in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, whereby the strategy for finding studies to include in SR was based on searching in five academic databases. Further selection of studies took place based on established eligibility criteria. Studies that have met the eligibility criteria for inclusion in SR, were assigned a quality rating using the QATDSS tool. For the purpose of synthesis of relevant information and findings of studies, included to SR, we created synthesis tables, which we separated according to six different groups of potential outcome predictors of CBT. With the synthesis of information about current studies, we recognized 39 potential outcome predictors for CBT of children and adolescents and 13 potential outcome predictors for CBT of adult patients, which were not studied by previous studies. Based on our findings and observations of the last review article, we find that on the entire developmental spectrum of OCD patients, the predictive value of the therapist’s characteristics for the outcome of CBT remains understudied and not yet studied remains the predictive value of intercultural differences for the outcome of CBT. Outcome predictors of CBT on elderly samples also remain understudied. The synthesis of findings of past and current studies showed a prevailing consistency of findings of studies on children and adolescents with findings of studies on adult patients. Prevailing consistent are also findings of past studies with the findings of current studies. Last but not least, the present work offers suggested adaptations of CBT for the treatment of OCD patients, developed based on the findings on the outcome predictors of CBT for OCD. Finally, we discuss the work’s shortcomings, present its practical value and suggest ideas for future research.
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