A Systematic Review of Ecological Momentary Assessment for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) presents significant challenges due to heterogeneous symptom presentation.
• Traditional retrospective assessment methods for OCD have limitations.
• Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) offers a potential alternative for real-time data collection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the application of EMA in assessing obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
• To examine key variables, methodological approaches, and benefits of EMA compared to retrospective measures in OCD research.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted across major scientific databases (Scopus, Pubmed, Web of Science, PsycNET, Cochrane Library).
• Twenty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review.
• Data extraction focused on assessed variables, EMA methodologies, and reported advantages/limitations.

Main Results:

• Compulsions were the most frequently assessed variable in OCD using EMA, alongside obsessions, experiential avoidance, and sleep.
• Diverse EMA methods were employed, including paper-based diaries and smartphone applications.
• Some studies indicated EMA's potential validity and sensitivity in detecting OCD changes, overcoming retrospective assessment limitations.

Conclusions:

• EMA shows potential for improving OCD assessment, offering real-time insights into symptom fluctuations.
• Current evidence suggests EMA's validity is still under investigation, and its application in clinical interventions remains limited.
• Further research is crucial to establish robust EMA protocols and integrate them effectively into OCD clinical practice.