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

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; Mage 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.

Treatment histories, barriers, and preferences for individuals with symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder.

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a prevalent and chronic mental health condition, associated with considerable individual and economic burden. Despite the availability of effective treatments, many individuals do not access support. The current study explores treatment histories, barriers to help-seeking, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) treatment preferences for individuals with clinically significant GAD symptoms. The utility of Health Belief Model (HBM) in predicting help-seeking is also examined. A cross-sectional design with 127 participants (Mage = 29.17; SD = 11.86; 80.3% female) was used. Sixty-two percent of participants reported previously seeking psychological treatment, and approximately 28% received CBT in the first instance. The most influential treatment barriers were a desire to solve the problem on one's own (M = 1.96, SD = 0.96), followed by affordability (M = 1.75, SD = 1.15) and feeling embarrassed or ashamed (M = 1.75, SD = 1.06). The most preferred treatment modes were in-person individual treatment (M = 7.59, SD = 2.86) followed by remote treatment via videoconferencing (M = 4.31, SD = 3.55). Approximately 38% of the variance in intention to seek treatment was associated with the HBM variables, with perceived benefit of treatment being the strongest predictor. Results have the potential to inform mental health service delivery by reducing treatment barriers and aligning public health campaigns with benefits of psychological treatments.

A preliminary investigation of the mediating roles of self-compassion and emotion dysregulation in the relationship between maladaptive perfectionism and obsessive-compulsive behaviors.

INTRODUCTION: Recent research has highlighted an association between maladaptive perfectionism and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, the mechanisms underlying this relationship are not well understood. The primary aim of this preliminary study was to investigate whether self-compassion and emotion dysregulation independently mediated this relationship. The secondary aim was to determine whether serial mediation existed between these factors. Whether these relations held for overall obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms, versus distinct dimensions of OCD, was also of interest. METHOD: Three hundred and ninety-two university students (Mage = 21.81, SD = 8.01), predominantly female (79.18%), participated in an online questionnaire that included a dimensional measure of OCD. Scales assessing maladaptive perfectionism, self-compassion, emotion dysregulation, and negative emotion states were also included. RESULTS: Greater maladaptive perfectionism was related to more severe OCD. Emotion dysregulation, but not self-compassion, independently mediated this relationship. A serial mediation relationship was found, in that greater maladaptive perfectionism was associated with lower self-compassion, which was linked to greater emotion dysregulation, and in turn related to more severe OC behaviors. In addition, distinct patterns emerged for separate OC dimensions. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight emotion regulation and self-compassion as potential targets for OCD prevention, especially in individuals with symptoms in the symmetry and unacceptable thoughts dimensions.

Efficacy and acceptability of a self-guided internet-delivered cognitive-behavioral educational program for obsessive-compulsive symptoms with international recruitment.

Cognitive-behavioural therapy is an effective treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, there are many barriers in accessing this treatment, with stigma being a particularly prominent barrier for many patients. Self-guided internet-delivered cognitive-behavioural therapy (ICBT), which does not require any contact with a therapist, has the potential to overcome this barrier. However, there is limited research on the efficacy of self-guided ICBT for OCD. The aim of the current study was to examine the efficacy of self-guided ICBT for OCD in a large international sample. Two hundred and sixteen participants were included in the study (Mage = 34.00; SD = 12.57; 72.7% female). On the primary outcome measure, the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (YBOCS), a medium within-group effect size was found from pre-treatment to post-treatment (g = 0.63), and a large within-group effect size was found from pre-treatment to 3-month follow-up (g = 0.98). Approximately one-quarter to one-third of participants met criteria for clinically significant improvement at post-treatment and 3-month follow-up (11% and 17% met criteria for remission at post-treatment and 3-month follow-up, respectively). These results demonstrate that self-guided ICBT may be an efficacious treatment for individuals with OCD who cannot or do not wish to engage with a mental health professional, resulting in medium to large effect sizes.

Remote cognitive behaviour therapy for social anxiety disorder: A meta-analysis.

Remote cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for social anxiety disorder (SAD) has the potential to improve access to treatment by reducing economic, geographic, and psychological barriers. The aim of this study was to use a meta-analytic approach to examine the efficacy of the different remote CBT methods for treating SAD. A systematic electronic database search was used to identify 31 studies (n = 2905; mean age range: 24.73-41.65 years; mean female representation = 60.2 %). Pooled within-group analyses indicated large effect sizes from pre-treatment to post-treatment (Hedges' g = 1.06; 95 % CI: 0.96-1.16) and pre-treatment to follow up (g = 1.18; 95 % CI: 1.03-1.33) for remote CBT. Internet-delivered CBT (g = 1.08; 95 % CI: 0.98-1.19) and application-delivered CBT (g = 1.19; 95 % CI: 0.75-1.64) produced large within-group effect sizes. Bibliotherapy-delivered CBT (g = 0.79; 95 % CI: 0.45-1.13) produced medium within-group effect sizes. Pooled between-group findings indicate that remote CBT treatments were more effective than passive control (g = 0.87; 95 % CI: 0.70-1.03) and non-CBT remote treatments (g = 0.41; 95 % CI: 0.17-0.66), and were at least as effective, or slightly more effective, than face-to-face CBT treatments (g = 0.34; 95 % CI: 0.14-0.54). These findings have important implications for the dissemination of remote and stepped-care treatments for SAD.

Guided versus self-guided internet delivered cognitive behavioural therapy for diagnosed anxiety and related disorders: a preliminary meta-analysis.

Guided and self-guided internet-delivered cognitive-behavioural therapy (ICBT) has been demonstrated to be efficacious in the treatment of anxiety and related disorders (ARDs). The aim of the current study was to examine the efficacy of guided and self-guided ICBT for adults diagnosed with ARDs using a meta-analytic synthesis of randomised controlled trials directly comparing the two treatment approaches. Eleven studies (n = 1414) were included. There was a small, but significantly pooled between-group effect size at post-treatment (g = 0.16; 95% CI: 0.03-0.28) favouring guided ICBT. At follow-up, the between-group effect size was small and non-significant (g = 0.13; 95% CI: -0.04-0.30). Gender distribution moderated outcome at post-treatment (higher proportions of females resulted in a smaller between-group effect size). Type of support provided in the guided-treatment arm moderated treatment outcome at follow-up (those receiving synchronous support had a larger between-group effect size). Amount of guidance in the guided-treatment arm moderated effect sizes at post-treatment and follow-up (more guidance leading to larger between-group effect sizes). Automated reminders, disorder type, and treatment length did not moderate outcomes. The results suggest that guided and self-guided ICBT interventions result in similar outcomes, however guided interventions may be marginally more effective in the short term.

Internet videoconferencing delivered cognitive behavioral therapy for social anxiety disoder: Protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is characterized by a fear of scrutiny in social or performance situations. Due to a number of barriers, many individuals do not seek treatment for SAD, resulting in a chronic and debilitating course. Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), and more recently Imagery Rescripting (ImR), have been found to be efficacious in the treatment of SAD when delivered face-to-face. However, the efficacy of these treatment approaches when delivered remotely, have not yet been examined in controlled trials. METHODS: The authors propose a two-group randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy of videoconferencing delivered CBT (vCBT) for SAD against a waitlist control group. The study will recruit 78 adults in total with a primary diagnosis of SAD of at least moderate severity. The manualised high-intensity vCBT intervention will be delivered weekly over an 8-week period. After treatment completion, the waitlist participants will receive a high-intensity videoconferencing delivered ImR (vImR) intervention also delivered weekly over an 8-week period. Treatment for both groups will be delivered in real time via an online videoconferencing platform. Outcome measures will be administered at baseline, mid-treatment, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: This trial will report findings on the efficacy of a remote synchronous high-intensity vCBT and vImR intervention for SAD and benchmark the two different treatment methodologies against standard face-to-face CBT. The results have the potential to inform best-practice remote psychological treatment for SAD. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered on the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry; ACTRN12623000313639 (5 April 2023).

Prevalence of body dysmorphic disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is characterised by a preoccupation with a perceived defect in appearance. This preoccupation results in the completion of repetitive/time consuming behaviours to reduce distress. While the disorder results in considerable distress and impairment, the prevalence of the disorder is largely unknown, as BDD has not been examined in large epidemiological studies. The aim of the current study was to provide an estimate of BDD prevalence in a variety of settings using a meta-analytic approach using only studies that have made a diagnosis using a structured diagnostic interview. Twenty-two studies met criteria (n = 7159) and the pooled point-prevalence estimate for BDD was 11.3% across all studies with high levels of heterogeneity (I2 = 95.81). The pooled point-prevalence estimate was 20.0% in cosmetic/dermatology settings, 7.4% in mental health settings, and 6.7% in 'other' settings (including students and professional ballet dancers). The risk of bias assessment indicated questionable methodological quality in some of the included studies. While this study provides an important improvement on the existing literature there is a need to include BDD in epidemiological studies in order to have a more accurate understanding of the prevalence rate of this mental health condition in the community.

Feasibility and acceptability of a remotely delivered transdiagnostic CBT treatment for postnatal anxiety and related disorders: A pilot case series.

Women in the postnatal period are at a high risk of developing clinically significant symptoms of anxiety. Cognitive behavioural therapy is effective in the treatment of postnatal anxiety; however, there are many barriers to accessing this treatment. This study examined the feasibility and acceptability of transdiagnostic cognitive behavioural therapy delivered remotely via Internet videoconferencing. Three women (Mage = 28.33 years; SD = 4.04) with a postnatal anxiety-related disorder were treated using the videoconference-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy. The treatment was delivered once per week over a 5-week period. All participants met criteria for clinically significant change in anxiety symptoms at post-treatment, and one participant met criteria for clinically significant change in depressive symptoms, which was maintained at 3-month follow-up. The intervention was also found to be acceptable by participants. The results provide preliminary feasibility evidence of the clinical utility and acceptability of remotely delivered transdiagnostic cognitive behavioural therapy as an intervention for postnatal anxiety disorders.

Help-seeking and treatment delivery preferences for women experiencing perinatal anxiety symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Anxiety is common during the perinatal period and despite effective treatments being available, many women with perinatal anxiety disorders experience barriers when accessing treatment. AIMS: The aims of the current study were to explore women's perceived barriers to treatment uptake; cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) treatment delivery preferences; and the utility of the Health Belief Model (HBM) in predicting intention to seek psychological help for women with perinatal anxiety symptoms. METHOD: This study employed a cross-sectional design consisting of women with self-reported anxiety in the perinatal period. A total of 216 women (Mage=28.53 years; SD=4.97) participated in the study by completing a battery of online self-report measures. RESULTS: The results indicated that the most salient barriers to accessing care were: (1) the cost of treatment, (2) wanting to solve the problem on their own, and (3) thinking the problem would go away without treatment. Group-delivered CBT was the least acceptable treatment method, while face-to-face individual CBT was the most acceptable treatment method. The HBM variables predicted approximately 35% of the variance in help-seeking intention. DISCUSSION: This study has important implications for the delivery of psychological care in the perinatal period and may be used to improve treatment uptake.

Predictors of response to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is considered the first-line treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, some individuals with OCD remain symptomatic following CBT, and therefore understanding predictors of outcome is important for informing treatment recommendations. AIMS: The current study aimed to provide the first synthesis of predictors of outcome following CBT for OCD in adults with a primary diagnosis of OCD, as classified by DSM-5. METHOD: Eight studies (n=359; mean age range=29.2-37.7 years; 55.4% female) were included in the systematic review. RESULTS: Congruent with past reviews, there was great heterogeneity of predictors measured across the included studies. Therefore, a narrative synthesis of findings was conducted. Findings from this systematic review indicated that some OCD-related pre-treatment variables (i.e. pre-treatment severity, past CBT treatment, and levels of avoidance) and during treatment variables (i.e. poor working alliance and low treatment adherence) may be important to consider when making treatment recommendations. However, the results also indicate that demographic variables and psychological co-morbidities may not be specific predictors of treatment response. CONCLUSIONS: These findings add to the growing body of literature on predictors of CBT treatment outcomes for individuals with OCD.

Changes in neural activity following a randomized trial of cognitive behavioral therapy for hoarding disorder.

OBJECTIVE: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is efficacious for hoarding disorder (HD), though results are modest. HD patients show an increase in activity in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) when making decisions. The aim of this study is to determine whether CBT's benefits follow improvements in dACC dysfunction or abnormalities previously identified in other brain regions. METHOD: In this randomized clinical trial of 64 treatment-seeking HD patients, patients received group CBT, delivered weekly for 16 weeks, versus wait list. Functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to examine neural activity during simulated decisions about whether to acquire and discard objects. RESULTS: During acquiring decisions, activity decreased in several regions, including right dorsolateral prefrontal, right anterior intraparietal area, both right and left medial intraparietal areas, left and right amygdala, and left accumbens. During discarding decisions, activity decreased in right and left dorsolateral prefrontal, right and left rostral cingulate, left anterior ventral insular cortex, and right medial intraparietal areas. None of the a priori brain parcels of interest significantly mediated symptom reduction. Moderation effects were found for left rostral cingulate, right and left caudal cingulate, and left medial intraparietal parcels. CONCLUSIONS: Therapeutic benefits of CBT for HD do not appear to be mediated by changes in dACC activation. However, pretreatment dACC activation predicts outcome. Findings suggest the need to re-evaluate emerging neurobiological models of HD and our understanding of how CBT affects the brain in HD, and perhaps shift focuses to new neural target discovery and target engagement trials. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

"A Tremendous Outpouring of Love and Affection": A Template Analysis of Positive Experiences During a Major LGBTQ Rights Campaign.

Human rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning (LGBTQ) people have frequently been decided via popular vote. Australia conducted one such vote on the topic of marriage equality in 2017. Research has tended to focus on the negative experiences reported by LGBTQ people during such votes, with little attention paid to any positive experiences identified. This paper seeks to redress that imbalance, reporting the findings of two qualitative studies asking LGBTQ Australians about positive experiences during the marriage equality vote. The first study analyzed 673 typed responses collected during the two-month voting period, while the second analyzed interview data from 19 LGBTQ Australians collected two-and-a-half years after the vote. Both were analyzed using template analysis. Results identified sources of support, types of support, empowerment through activism, changes in general and LGBTQ communities, and positive personal changes. As public votes continue to be used to determine LGBTQ human rights, the findings may guide interventions to help LGBTQ people and their allies cope with such campaigns.

Assessing Gender Dysphoria: Development and Validation of the Gender Preoccupation and Stability Questionnaire - 2nd Edition (GPSQ-2).

The Gender Preoccupation and Stability Questionnaire (GPSQ) is a 14-item measure used to assess the effectiveness of medical, surgical, social, and psychological interventions in trans and gender diverse adults who experience gender dysphoria. One major limitation of the GPSQ is that it was not developed for use with adolescents. This study aims to validate a revised version of the GPSQ, the Gender Preoccupation and Stability Questionnaire-2nd Edition (GPSQ-2) with the aim of adapting the measure to be applicable to individuals aged 13 and above. This research was conducted in three stages: 1) development of the GPSQ-2 to address previously identified issues with validity and comprehensibility of the GPSQ and to increase the applicability of the measure to adolescents; 2) pilot testing, using a purposive sample and semi-structured interviews, to assess the relevance, comprehensibility, and comprehensiveness of the GPSQ-2; and 3) validation using a community sample to assess the psychometric properties of the GPSQ-2. The pilot study was conducted with seven participants (Mage = 28.43, SD = 15.50; age range: 13-59). The GPSQ-2 was found to be easy to understand, relevant to individuals who experienced gender dysphoria, and that it did not have any identifiable omissions. The validation study was conducted with 141 participants (Mage = 36.44; SD = 14.76; age range 14-73). The GPSQ-2 was found to be a reliable and valid 14-item scale with two factors: preoccupation and stability. The GPSQ-2 is a structurally sound measure of gender dysphoria that can be used in populations aged 13 and above.

Symptom improvement and remission in untreated adults seeking treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common psychiatric condition that results in significant distress and impairment, and high societal costs. OCD is widely considered to be a chronic condition, however, our understanding of the chronicity of the disorder, and the incidence of spontaneous remission, has largely relied on longitudinal studies of individuals who have received treatment. The aim of the current study is to examine symptom improvement and rate of spontaneous remission in individuals with OCD who were assigned to a no-treatment control group within a randomized controlled trial using a meta-analytic approach. Twelve studies (n = 282; mean age = 35.52; 60.03 % female) were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled within-group effect size was negligible (g = -0.14; 95 % CI [-0.25, -0.04]) and only 4 % of participants demonstrated spontaneous remission across an average of 10.92 weeks (event rate = 0.04; [95 % CI: 0.01, 0.11]). Sample size and duration of OCD symptoms significantly moderated the effect size for symptom change. No moderators were found for symptom remission. The findings add to the small body of literature demonstrating that OCD has a chronic and unremitting course without treatment.

Internet videoconferencing delivered cognitive behavior therapy for generalized anxiety disorder: protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a chronic mental health condition that results in a significant individual and societal burden. While cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is well established as an efficacious treatment for GAD, many patients experience logistical barriers when accessing face-to-face CBT. Remotely delivered treatments remove many of these barriers. Despite emerging evidence demonstrating the efficacy of remotely delivered CBT for GAD, studies examining the efficacy of remote methods for GAD that are analogous to standard face-to-face treatment, in particular synchronous treatments such as CBT delivered via online videoconferencing (VCBT), are needed. METHODS: The authors propose a two-group randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy of VCBT for GAD against a waitlist control group. The recruitment target will be 78 adults with primary GAD of at least moderate severity. The manualized high-intensity VCBT intervention will be delivered weekly over a 10-week period. After treatment completion, waitlist participants will receive the same VCBT delivered in a brief format (i.e., weekly over a 5-week period). Treatment for both groups will be delivered in real time via an online teleconferencing platform. Outcome measures will be administered at baseline, mid-treatment, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up. DISCUSSION: This trial will report findings on the efficacy of a remote synchronous high-intensity VCBT intervention for GAD. The results have the potential to contribute towards advancing our knowledge on the evidence base for GAD, as well as increase the dissemination of VCBT for GAD. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12621000786897 . Registered on 22 June 2021.

Remote cognitive-behavioral therapy for generalized anxiety disorder: A preliminary meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a chronic mental health condition that results in significant individual, societal, and economic burden. While cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is well established as an efficacious treatment for GAD, individuals have identified several logistical barriers to accessing face-to-face CBT. Remotely delivered treatments address many of these treatment barriers. METHODS: The aim of the current study was to synthesize the current literature on the efficacy of remote CBT for GAD using a meta-analytic approach. Relevant articles were identified through an electronic database search and 10 studies (with 11 remote conditions and 1071 participants) were included in the meta-analysis. RESULTS: Within-group findings indicate that remote CBT for GAD results in large effect sizes from pretreatment to posttreatment (g = 1.30; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-1.58). Both low intensity and high intensity remote CBT interventions were found to result in large effect sizes (g = 1.36; 95% CI: 1.11-1.61 and g = 0.83; 95% CI: 0.20-1.47, respectively), with no significant differences between the treatment formats (Q1 = 2.28, p = 0.13). Between-group effect sizes were medium in size at posttreatment (g = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.47-1.06). CONCLUSIONS: These findings have potential implications for the delivery of evidence-based treatment for GAD and the inclusion of remote methods in stepped care treatment approaches.

Correlates of therapist drift in psychological practice: A systematic review of therapist characteristics.

Therapist drift refers to the tendency for psychologists to move away from the delivery of the evidence-based practices in which they are trained, even when resourced to implement them. When therapists do not provide, or only partially provide, empirically supported treatments their patients may receive interventions that are not effective, or that are harmful. The aim of the current study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature to ascertain the correlates of therapist drift in psychological practice, focusing on therapist characteristics. Relevant articles were identified through a comprehensive search of the literature. Sixty-six studies met the inclusion criteria and nine therapist characteristics that correlate with therapist drift were identified. These characteristics included: (1) therapist knowledge; (2) attitudes toward research; (3) therapist anxiety; (4) clinical experience; (5) therapist age; (6) theoretical orientation; (7) critical thinking; (8) personality traits; and (9) cultural competency. The interrelationships between these factors are explored and the clinical implications of results are discussed. Recommendations are made for future research.

Psychometric properties of the DSM-5 social anxiety disorder dimensional scale in an Australian community sample.

OBJECTIVE: The Social Anxiety Disorder Dimensional Scale (SAD-D) is a 10-item scale developed by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (Fifth Edition) Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum, Posttraumatic, and Dissociative Disorder work group to supplement current dichotomous approaches to assessment of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the SAD-D in an Australian community sample. METHODS: Two-hundred and ninety-one participants (72.9% female) aged 18-76 years (M =28.46; SD = 12.30) completed the study. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis indicated support for the unidimensional structure of the SAD-D (root mean square error of approximation [RMSE] = 0.08; comparative fit index [CFI] = 0.97). The measure demonstrated strong internal consistency (α = 0.94), as well as good divergent validity. The SAD-D showed excellent test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.93). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the SAD-D appears to be a brief and reliable measure of SAD symptomatology. Limitations, including the use of a predominantly female convenience sample, and failure to include the mental health and background of the sample, are discussed.

Low intensity technology-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a well-established treatment for people suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and technology-based CBT applications are an emerging treatment option for people with OCD. These applications involve treatment protocols with automated content delivery and relatively low clinical contact. Whilst such CBT applications are promising, however, further investigation is needed to establish the efficacy of this treatment approach for individuals with OCD. The aim of the present study was to review the efficacy of technology-delivered CBT with minimal clinician support for OCD using a meta-analytic approach. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials (RCT) were identified through PsycINFO, Medline and Scopus resulting in 18 eligible studies (n = 1707). Control conditions comprised both passive (namely no treatment, other treatments and waitlist controls) and active. Measurement of OCD symptoms improvement was the outcome in each study. RESULTS: Participants in the technology-delivered CBT group scored lower on Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) (g = - 0.59, 95% CI = [- 0.99, - 0.18], p = 0.01), Y-BOCS and Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (DOCS) combined (g = - 0.55, 95% CI = [- 0.87, - 0.24], p = 0.003) and Obsessive-Compulsive-Inventory-Revised (OCI-R) (g = - 0.36, 95% CI = [- 0.62, - 0.09], p = 0.02) at post-treatment than passive control groups. There were no significant findings when compared to controls with other treatments. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis suggests that technology-delivered CBT with low personal contact intensity, relative to passive control groups, is an efficacious and promising treatment option for individuals with OCD. Further research is needed to allow for a comparison with control groups with other treatments.