Home self-assessment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Use of a manual and a computer-conducted telephone interview: two UK-US studies

• Published in: British journal of psychiatry Vol. 172; no. 5; pp. 406 - 412
• Main Authors: Marks, I M, Baer, L, Greist, J H, Park, J M, Bachofen, M, Nakagawa, A, Wenzel, K W, Parkin, J R, Manzo, P A, Dottl, S L, Mantle, J M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Cambridge University Press 01.05.1998
• Subjects: Adult; Behavior Therapy - methods; Evaluation; Exposure therapy; Female; Home Care Services; Humans; Interactive voice response; Male; Manuals as Topic; Neuroses; Obsessive compulsive disorder; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - diagnosis; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - therapy; Self evaluation; Self-Assessment; Self-medication; Telemedicine; Telephone; Therapy, Computer-Assisted; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0007-1250; 1472-1465
• DOI: 10.1192/bjp.172.5.406

Two studies tested whether subjects with obsessive-compulsive disorder could successfully use BT STEPS, a computer-aided system, to perform self-assessment for self-treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder by exposure and ritual prevention. Subjects were given a self-guiding manual and could use a touch-tone telephone to access computer-controlled Interactive Voice Response interviews at their convenience from home. Using the BT STEPS system, patients rated themselves and worked out a plan for individually tailored self-exposure therapy. Outcomes were similar in the two studies. Of the 63 subjects who used BT STEPS, 84% completed the self-assessment module. Most calls were made outside usual office hours. As expected, subjects did not improve merely by completing self-assessment. However, completion of self-assessment predicted later improvement with self-exposure therapy. Most subjects successfully completed self-assessment using BT STEPS from their homes. BT STEPS is a trademark of Pfizer, Inc. I.M.M., L.B. and J.H.G. have a financial interest in BT STEPS.