Self-help application for obsessive-compulsive disorder based on exposure and response prevention technique with...

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Psychiatry
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) significantly impairs daily functioning and relationships.
• Access to evidence-based cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for OCD is often limited.
• Mobile health applications (apps) present a viable solution to enhance access to OCD therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and evaluate a prototype of a self-help mobile application for individuals with OCD.
• The app is based on the exposure and response prevention (ERP) technique, a first-line treatment for OCD.
• To improve accessibility and user-friendliness of evidence-based OCD treatment.

Main Methods:

• A four-phase development process: needs assessment, paper prototype creation, digital prototype development, and usability evaluation.
• Needs assessment involved literature review, competitor analysis, and interviews with patients and psychiatrists.
• Usability evaluation included heuristic evaluation by experts and patient testing using the System Usability Scale (SUS).

Main Results:

• Requirements analysis defined essential information, educational elements, and functional capabilities for the app.
• The prototype incorporates features like online self-help groups, symptom severity assessment, psychological training, personalized treatment plans, progress tracking, and reminders.
• Expert heuristic evaluation identified improvements for information delivery and feature implementation.

Conclusions:

• The developed prototype offers a user-centered design for a self-help OCD app.
• Expert feedback guided the refinement of the app's features for optimal usability.
• The app aims to bridge the gap in accessing effective OCD treatment through mobile technology.