Clinical and demographic characteristics of patients with obsessive-compulsive symptoms using internet-delivered and face-to-face cognitive behavior therapy

Objective: Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (ICBT) is an effective treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, little is known about the characteristics of individuals who engage with this treatment and whether they are comparable to those who engage in face-to-face treatment for OCD. The aim of the current study was to examine the demographic and clinical characteristics of participants who engaged in a large open trial of self-guided ICBT for OCD and compare their characteristics with those who completed face-to-face treatment for OCD, as described in large, published studies. Method: Three hundred and twenty-three participants (Mage = 33.27; SD = 12.22; 74.1% female) were included in the study. Results: Participants in the ICBT group were significantly younger in age, were more likely to be female, and less likely to take psychotropic medication for their OCD symptoms, compared to participants who completed face-to-face treatment. There were no significant differences between the groups on OCD symptom severity or on depressive symptom severity. Conclusion: Although slight differences in demographic characteristics were found between the ICBT group and face-to-face CBT group, the groups had similar clinical characteristics, indicating individuals who seek both treatment modalities are comparable to one another.