JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

New technologies are set to profoundly change the way we understand and manage psychiatric disorders, including obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Developments in imaging and biomarkers, along with medical informatics, may well allow for better assessments and interventions in the future. Recent advances in the concept of digital phenotype, which involves using computerized measurement tools to capture the characteristics of a given psychiatric disorder, is one paradigmatic example

Objective:

The impact of new technologies on health professionals’ practice in OCD care remains to be determined. Recent developments could disrupt not just their clinical practices, but also their beliefs, ethics and representations, even going so far as to question their professional culture. In the present study, we conducted an extensive review of new technologies in OCD.

Methods:

We conducted our review by looking for titles in the PubMed database up to December 2017 that contained the terms [Obsessive] AND [Smartphone] OR [phone] OR [Internet] OR [Device] OR [Wearable] OR [Mobile] OR [Machine learning] OR [Artificial] OR [Biofeedback] OR [Neurofeedback] OR [Momentary] OR [Computerized] OR [Heart rate variability] OR [actigraphy] OR [actimetry] OR [digital] OR [virtual reality].

Results:

359 articles were analyzed, of which 57 were included. Our review was divided into three parts: prediction, assessment (including diagnosis, screening and monitoring), and intervention.

Conclusions:

Our review showed that the place of connected objects, artificial intelligence and remote monitoring has yet to be defined in OCD. Smartphone assessment apps and the Web Screening Questionnaire demonstrate good sensitivity and adequate specificity for detecting OCD symptoms, when compared with a full-length structured clinical interview. The ecological momentary assessment (EMA) procedure may also represent a worthy addition to the current suite of assessment tools. In the field of intervention, CBT supported by smartphone, Internet or computer may not be more effective than that delivered by a qualified practitioner, but it is easy to use, well accepted by patients, reproducible and cost effective. Finally, new technologies are enabling the development of new therapies, including biofeedback and virtual reality, that focus on the learning of coping skills. In order for them to be used, these tools must be properly explained and tailored to individual physician and patient profiles.