Reaching reliable change using short, daily, cognitive training exercises delivered on a mobile application: The case of Relationship Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (ROCD) symptoms and cognitions in a subclinical cohort

Silvia Cerea; Marta Ghisi; Gioia Bottesi; Eleonora Carraro; Denise Broggio; Guy Doron

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2020.07.043

Reaching reliable change using short, daily, cognitive training exercises delivered on a mobile application: The case of Relationship Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (ROCD) symptoms and cognitions in a subclinical cohort

J Affect Disord. 2020 Nov 1:276:775-787. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.07.043. Epub 2020 Jul 21.

Authors

Silvia Cerea¹, Marta Ghisi², Gioia Bottesi², Eleonora Carraro², Denise Broggio², Guy Doron³

Affiliations

¹ Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia, 8, 35131 Padua, Italy. Electronic address: silvia.cerea@unipd.it.
² Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia, 8, 35131 Padua, Italy.
³ Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya, PO Box 167, Herzliya 46150, Israel. Electronic address: gdoron@idc.ac.il.

PMID: 32738662
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.07.043

Abstract

Background: Relationship Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (ROCD) is a presentation of OCD centering on interpersonal relationships. The aim of this Randomized Control Trial (RCT) was to assess the efficacy of short, game like, daily cognitive interventions delivered via mobile application in reducing subclinical ROCD symptoms and associated phenomena.

Methods: Fifty university students identified as having subclinical levels of ROCD symptoms (using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Clinical Version) were randomized into: immediate-use group (iApp group; n = 25) and delayed-use group (dApp group; n = 25). The iApp group started using the evaluated cognitive-behavioral training application at baseline for 15 days (T0 to T1). The dApp group commenced using the application at T1 for 15 days (T1 to T2). All participants completed questionnaires at baseline (T0), 15 days from baseline (T1), and 30 days from baseline (T2).

Results: Repeated measure MANOVAs showed significant Group (iApp vs. dApp) × Time (T0 vs. T1) interactions. These interactions indicated greater decrease in ROCD symptoms, OCD beliefs and social anxiety symptoms, as well as a greater increase in self-esteem in the iApp group compared to dApp group at T1. Moreover, the Reliable Change Index (RCI) indicated reliable change on ROCD symptoms for a significant portion of participants (42-52%).

Limitations: Sample size and the use of self-report measures limits the generalizability of the results.

Conclusions: Short, daily cognitive training interventions delivered via mobile applications may be useful in reducing subclinical ROCD symptoms and associated features. Further testing is needed for clinical populations.

Keywords: Cognitive-Behavioral Training; Mobile Phone Apps; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder; Relationships; Reliable Change.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

Cognition
Exercise
Humans
Mobile Applications*
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder* / therapy
Surveys and Questionnaires