Internet-based cognitive behaviour therapy for obsessive compulsive disorder

Cognitive behaviour therapy is the psychological treatment of choice for obsessive compulsive disorder. Traditionally, cognitive behaviour therapy is delivered via face-to- face sessions with a specialist clinician. It often involves significant portions of therapist- assisted exposure. However, there are many barriers to accessing appropriate treatment and there is a clear need for more effective treatment dissemination. Can CBT be successfully delivered without seeing the patient? Can OCD be properly treated over the Internet? This body of research has been steadily increasing over the last decade, and this review provides the latest evidence for the efficacy, cost-effectiveness, and acceptability of online treatments for OCD. The outcomes of online programs will be compared to those found for traditional face-to-face cognitive behaviour therapy. The clinical advantages and disadvantages of Internet-based treatments will also be discussed and exemplified with examples drawn from the online clinic that we operate. This article concludes with recommendations for future research.