title: Internet cognitive behavioural treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder: A randomised controlled trial.
abstract: Internet-based cognitive behaviour therapy (iCBT) is becoming increasing accepted as an efficacious and effective treatment for the anxiety and depressive disorders. However few studies have examined the efficacy of iCBT for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). This randomised controlled trial compared technician-administered iCBT (n = 32) to a treatment as usual (TAU) control group (n = 35) in patients with OCD. The primary outcome measures were the Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (DOCS) and the Obsessional Beliefs Questionnaire (OBQ-20) administered at pre- and post-treatment (or matched time points). The iCBT group was followed-up at 3-months post-treatment when diagnostic status was assessed at clinical interview. The iCBT program was more efficacious than TAU in reducing maladaptive OC beliefs as well as symptoms of OCD, distress, and depression, with large within- and between-groups effect sizes found (>.78). Adherence was high (75%) and gains were maintained at 3 month-follow-up with 54% of treatment completers no longer meeting diagnostic criteria for OCD at follow-up. These results are comparable to outcomes obtained by clinician-administered face-to-face and internet-based programs and suggest that iCBT for OCD is efficacious when administered by a clinically-supervised technician. Future research is now needed to evaluate how effective iCBT for OCD is in routine clinical settings.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression (CRUfAD), St. Vincent's Hospital, Level 4 O'Brien Centre, 394-404 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney, New South Wales, 2010, Australia. Electronic address: amahoney@stvincents.com.au.
authors.forename: Alison E J
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Mahoney
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression (CRUfAD), St. Vincent's Hospital, Level 4 O'Brien Centre, 394-404 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney, New South Wales, 2010, Australia; School of Psychiatry, UNSW Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mackenzie
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression (CRUfAD), St. Vincent's Hospital, Level 4 O'Brien Centre, 394-404 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney, New South Wales, 2010, Australia; School of Psychiatry, UNSW Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia. Electronic address: alishia.williams@unsw.edu.au.
authors.forename: Alishia D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression (CRUfAD), St. Vincent's Hospital, Level 4 O'Brien Centre, 394-404 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney, New South Wales, 2010, Australia. Electronic address: Smith@svha.org.au.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression (CRUfAD), St. Vincent's Hospital, Level 4 O'Brien Centre, 394-404 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney, New South Wales, 2010, Australia; School of Psychiatry, UNSW Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia. Electronic address: gavina@unsw.edu.au.
authors.forename: Gavin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Andrews
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Cognitive behaviour therapy; Internet-based cognitive behaviour therapy; Obsessive compulsive disorder