Cognitive Training Via mHealth for Addressing OCD-related Beliefs in Adolescents: A Randomized Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Digital Health

Background:

• Adolescence is a key developmental stage for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptom onset.
• Preventive strategies are crucial for addressing adolescent OCD.
• GGOC-AD is a mobile app module designed to target maladaptive beliefs in adolescents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and usability of the GGOC-AD mobile app in adolescents.
• To assess the preliminary efficacy of GGOC-AD in reducing OCD symptoms and maladaptive beliefs.
• To gather data for optimizing future research and randomized controlled trials.

Main Methods:

• A parallel two-arm pilot trial involving 36 adolescents.
• Experimental group used GGOC-AD app for 14 days; control group used a neutral app.
• Feasibility, acceptability, and usability assessed via self-reports and interviews.
• OCD symptoms, maladaptive beliefs, emotional symptoms, and self-esteem measured at baseline and post-intervention.

Main Results:

• The study protocol was feasible.
• The GGOC-AD app was rated as acceptable and usable by participants.
• No significant intervention effects were observed for OCD symptoms, maladaptive beliefs, emotional symptoms, or self-esteem.

Conclusions:

• The GGOC-AD app demonstrates feasibility, acceptability, and usability in adolescents.
• Further research is needed to establish the efficacy of GGOC-AD for OCD symptom reduction.
• Findings inform the design of future randomized controlled trials for mHealth interventions in adolescent mental health.