Internet-based cognitive behavior therapy for obsessive compulsive disorder: a pilot study

• Published in: BMC psychiatry 2011-08, Vol.11 (1), p.125-125, Article 125
• Main Authors: Andersson, Erik, Ljótsson, Brjánn, Hedman, Erik, Kaldo, Viktor, Paxling, Björn, Andersson, Gerhard, Lindefors, Nils, Rück, Christian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Care and treatment; Cognitive behavior therapy; Cognitive therapy; Cognitive Therapy - methods; Cognitive Therapy - statistics & numerical data; Depression - complications; Depression - psychology; Depression - therapy; Female; Health aspects; Humans; Internet; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Middle Aged; Obsessive-compulsive disorder; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - complications; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - psychology; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - therapy; Patient Compliance - statistics & numerical data; Pilot Projects; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales - statistics & numerical data; Quality of Life - psychology; SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP; Self Report; SOCIAL SCIENCES; Therapy, Computer-Assisted - methods; Therapy, Computer-Assisted - statistics & numerical data
• ISSN: 1471-244X; 1471-244X
• DOI: 10.1186/1471-244X-11-125

Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is widely regarded as an effective treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), but access to CBT therapists is limited. Internet-based CBT (ICBT) with therapist support is a way to increase access to CBT but has not been developed or tested for OCD. The aim of this study was to evaluate ICBT for OCD. An open trial where patients (N = 23) received a 15-week ICBT program with therapist support consisting of psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring and exposure with response prevention. The primary outcome was the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), which was assessed by a psychiatrist before and immediately after treatment. Secondary outcomes were self-rated measures of OCD symptoms, depressive symptoms, general functioning, anxiety and quality of life. All assessments were made at baseline and post-treatment. All participants completed the primary outcome measure at all assessment points. There were reductions in OCD symptoms with a large within-group effect size (Cohen's d = 1.56). At post-treatment, 61% of participants had a clinically significant improvement and 43% no longer fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of OCD. The treatment also resulted in statistically significant improvements in self-rated OCD symptoms, general functioning and depression. ICBT with therapist support reduces OCD symptoms, depressive symptoms and improves general functioning. Randomized trials are needed to confirm the effectiveness of this new treatment format.