Acceptability of internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy for adults with symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder: A meta-analysis

Abstract

Objectives

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic mental health disorder. Internet-delivered cognitive behaviour therapy (ICBT) is demonstrated to be effective for OCD; however little is known about the acceptability of the treatment. Therefore the aim of this study was to examine the acceptability of ICBT for adults with OCD symptoms using a meta-analytic approach.

Method

Seventeen studies (N = 1661; M_age range = 28–41 years; 58%–93% female) were included in this analysis.

Results

The random effects pooled estimates indicated that 16.3% (95% CI: 9.8%–25.7%) of participants did not commence the treatment once they were enrolled in the study, 27.6% (95% CI: 19.0%–38.2%) did not complete the treatment, and 27.0% (95% CI: 18.2%–38.0%) did not complete the post-treatment questionnaires of the study. The mean score on the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire ranged from 22.4 to 26.5. Overall, pooled estimates indicated that 81.6% (95% CI: 76.1%–86.0%) of participants were satisfied with the ICBT intervention and 84.7% (95% CI: 72.8%–92.0%) indicated that they would recommend the treatment to a friend. Some of the acceptability moderator analyses indicated that self-guided ICBT interventions had lower levels of acceptability compared with clinician-guided interventions. However, given low power, these results should be considered preliminary.

Conclusions

This study has important implications in the dissemination of ICBT for OCD.