Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Korea

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Digital Health

Background:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a leading intervention for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
• Barriers like time and geography limit access to traditional face-to-face CBT for many OCD patients.
• Development of accessible, effective digital interventions is crucial for expanding treatment reach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an internet-based CBT (ICBT) program tailored for OCD.
• To evaluate the efficacy of this ICBT program within the Korean clinical context.

Main Methods:

• An ICBT program ('COT') was adapted from an established OCD CBT manual.
• Twenty-seven out of 42 participants completed the ICBT program.
• Pre- and post-treatment assessments included self-report measures (OCD, depression, anxiety, functioning) and neurocognitive tests.

Main Results:

• Participants demonstrated significant improvements in OCD symptoms, depression, and work/social functioning post-ICBT.
• Medication status did not significantly influence treatment outcomes.
• Non-completers exhibited higher baseline depression and anxiety; responders were younger and showed better cognitive performance.

Conclusions:

• ICBT is effective for patients with moderate OCD symptoms and limited prior treatment experience.
• The convenience and accessibility of ICBT make it a potential first-line treatment option when in-person therapy is not feasible.
• Further randomized controlled trials are needed to validate and generalize these findings.