The effectiveness of metacognitive therapy in comparison to exposure and response prevention for obsessive-compulsive disorder: A randomized controlled trial

•MCT and ERP produced significant reductions in OCD-symptoms and comorbid symptoms.•Both treatments produced moderate to large within-group effect sizes.•High proportions of significant clinical change were found.•Dropout rates were low and treatment gains were maintained at six-months follow-up.•MCT proves to be a effective alternative treatment to the well-established ERP.