title: Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Korea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is regarded as one of the most effective intervention for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, many patients remain untreated or inadequately treated due to time or geographical constraints. The purpose of this study was to develop an internet-based CBT (ICBT) for OCD, and to examine its efficacy in the Korean clinical setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  The ICBT program ('COT') was developed from the same OCD manual in the standard CBT intervention. Twenty-seven participants of the total 42 patients completed all training sessions of the ICBT and the remainder (n=15) were classified as non-completers. Self-report measures of OCD, depression, anxiety, and work/social functioning, in addition to a neurocognitive test battery, were administered by face-to-face before and after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The participants showed significant improvements in OCD and depressive symptoms, and in work/social functioning after ICBT completion. The presence of combined medication had no significant impact on treatment effect. The non-completers displayed more severe depressive and anxiety symptoms, and ICBT responders were younger and performed better in the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ICBT was found to be as effective for patients with moderate OC symptoms and little treatment experience. Considering the high accessibility and convenience of ICBT, it could be a helpful first treatment step for OCD patients when face-to-face treatment is unavailable. In the future a randomized controlled study will be necessary for verification and generalization of these results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.; Seoultop Psychiatry Clinic & Seoul Junior Counseling Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Soon-Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Seol
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.; Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jun Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Seoultop Psychiatry Clinic & Seoul Junior Counseling Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yang Yeol
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Nyun
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.; Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Sup
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Shin
keywords: Cognitive behavioral therapy; Computer; Internet; Obsessive-compulsive disorder; Treatment efficacy