App-guided exposure and response prevention for obsessive compulsive disorder: an open pilot trial

Abstract

Although effective treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) exist, there are significant barriers to receiving evidence-based care. Mobile health applications (Apps) offer a promising way of overcoming these barriers by increasing access to treatment. The current study investigated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of LiveOCDFree, an App designed to help OCD patients conduct exposure and response prevention (ERP). Twenty-one participants with mild to moderate symptoms of OCD were enrolled in a 12-week open trial of App-guided self-help ERP. Self-report assessments of OCD, depression, anxiety, and quality of life were completed at baseline, mid-treatment, and post-treatment. App-guided ERP was a feasible and acceptable self-help intervention for individuals with OCD, with high rates of retention and satisfaction. Participants reported significant improvement in OCD and anxiety symptoms pre- to post-treatment. Findings suggest that LiveOCDFree is a feasible and acceptable self-help intervention for OCD. Preliminary efficacy results are encouraging and point to the potential utility of mobile Apps in expanding the reach of existing empirically supported treatments.

Obsessive–compulsive disorder—contamination fears, features, and treatment: novel smartphone therapies in light of global mental health and pandemics (COVID-19)

“…To address barriers to traditional treatment (improve accessibility) research has explored remotely delivered CBT. 48,65,66,79 to treatment as patients go about their daily lives (i.e., in places where symptoms naturally arise); e.g., the gym, grocery store, park or the bus or train. 65…”

“…This app provides guidance on ERP and includes specific components such as help 12 designing an exposure schedule, setting up an ERP hierarchy and reminders for ERP exercises. 65 One open trial (non-controlled) provided preliminary data in support of its efficacy and acceptability; the first study to assess the efficacy of a smartphone intervention for OCD. The study found the app (i.e., 12-week intervention) improved OCD and anxiety symptomatology.…”

“…64 Limited accessibility-high cost, being time-consuming, inconvenience of delivery (e.g., participant travel), and geographical isolation (e.g., impacting rural areas)is thus a major potential drawback of ERP. 48,63,65,66 In terms of pharmacological intervention, SSRIs and clomipramine show efficacy versus placebo control; as confirmed by a large recent network meta-analysis 67 (see too 66 ).…”

Effectiveness of Using Mental Health Mobile Apps as Digital Antidepressants for Reducing Anxiety and Depression: Protocol for a Multiple Baseline Across-Individuals Design

“…Within this research, there are some notable shortcomings, including substantial heterogeneity across studies. For example, there have been differences in dosage [ 11 , 12 ] duration of interventions [ 13 , 14 ] and the absence of long-term follow-up data [ 15 ].…”

How New Technologies Can Improve Prediction, Assessment, and Intervention in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (e-OCD): Review (Preprint)

“…In the wake of this review, an open pilot trial investigated the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of an ERP app (LiveOCDFree) among 21 patients with mild-to-moderate symptoms [38]. This showed that smartphone-guided ERP is feasible and acceptable, with high rates of retention and satisfaction, as participants reported significant improvements in OCD symptoms …”