title: An open trial of videoconference-mediated exposure and ritual prevention for obsessive-compulsive disorder.
abstract: The gold-standard treatment for OCD is exposure and ritual prevention (ERP), yet despite its well-established efficacy, only a small percentage of OCD patients have access to this treatment. Remote treatments (e.g., videoconferencing) are becoming increasingly popular avenues for treatment delivery and show promise in increasing patient access to evidence-based mental health care. The current pilot study utilized an open trial to examine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of videoconference-mediated, twice weekly, ERP for adults (n=15) with OCD. Results revealed that ERP was associated with significant improvements in OCD symptoms and large within-group effect sizes. Among the 10 individuals who completed a 3-month follow-up assessment, 30% of participants no longer met DSM-IV-TR criteria for OCD and 80% of participants were rated as very much or much improved on the CGI. This study adds to the growing body of literature suggesting that videoconference-based interventions are viable alternatives to face-to-face treatment.
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts General Hospital, One Bowdoin Sq., 6th Floor, Boston, MA, USA; Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA, USA. Electronic address: egoetter@mgh.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Elizabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Goetter
authors.affiliation: Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Herbert
authors.affiliation: Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Evan M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Forman
authors.affiliation: University of Tampa, 401 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Erica K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Yuen
authors.affiliation: Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 196 Richmond St., Providence, RI, USA.
authors.forename: J Graham
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002562:Ceremonial Behavior; D003192:Compulsive Behavior / Q000517:prevention & control*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D049269:Videoconferencing
keywords: Exposure and ritual prevention; Obsessive-compulsive disorder; Telehealth; Telemental health; Telepsychology; Videoconferencing