Internet-based cognitive-behavioral therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder - a literature review

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a condition in which the key symptoms are obsessive thoughts and motor compulsions. The prevalence of obsessive-compulsive disorder is about 2-3%. The issue of the effectiveness of internet-based therapeutic interventions based on cognitivebehavioral therapy (iCBT) for people suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has not been thoroughly investigated in Poland yet. The aim of this article is to present the results of existing studies on sample iCBT programs for people with OCD and to analyze their effectiveness. In addition to reviewing the conducted research on the therapeutic effectiveness of iCBT, we also presented the results of analyses of the main predictive factors that may influence the effectiveness of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy when working with patients with OCD. The following scientific databases were reviewed in search for relevant literature: PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and EBSCO. The presented study is a review of works published in the last 15 years (from 2010 to 2024). The following key words were used while searching for relevant articles: icbt, internet based cognitive behavioral therapy; internet cognitive behavioral therapy; internet-based intervention ocd; internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy, and ocd, obsessive compulsive disorder, obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Eventually 38 research papers were selected for further analysis. The initial research suggests that fully automated iCBT programs, as well as those including therapist support, are promising approaches to working with patients and are an effective way to increase access to treatment for people with OCD.