background Obsessive compulsive disorder (ocd) patients become engaged in repetitive behavior. This can be relatively innocent (e.g. unable to stop checking the car lock) but it can also have serious consequences (e.g. a parent unable to stop washing hands while an infant waits to be fed).
aim To develop and evaluate a system which aims to better understand and help ocd patients with this repetitive behaviour. The system is envisioned to help ocd patients in the following ways: 1. Enable patients to rate what kind of feedback helps them, 2. Provide a log for psychologists, nurse therapists and potential caretakers to assist patients in a more effective, efficient and personalized way. And last, but most important, 3. Enhance transfer of learning during and after treatment.
method The system consists of a website, a smartphone and a database. The website serves as an interface for the database for medical personnel and patients. The smartphone is given to patients. It runs an application through which patients can register the context under which the repetitive behavior occurs but also give feedback on how to stop this behavior.
results The system has its roots in the experience sampling method (esm). The esm is a survey method, i.e. a way to collect self-reported data from participants that is executed over sustained periods of time, e.g., days, weeks or even months. It can be thought of as a questionnaire that is filled in repeatedly by a participant during the study period. In this sense it is similar to what many know as the diary method or journaling, with the difference that informants are prompted to provide information through some technological means rather than at the time they choose to.
conclusion The results of the pilot study and its ethical consequences will be discussed.