GG OCD - Thoughts Exercise
This app aims to improve OCD symptoms, specifically negative thinking by increasing the user’s awareness of negative thoughts and training the brain to challenge them.

NOCD is an app for individuals with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. NOCD helps consumers with two types of treatments: Mindfulness and Exposure Response Prevention Treatment. Specifically, the app contains immediate guidance during an OCD episode, weekly tests to assess severity of OCD, OCD information and education, data about the condition and treatment that can be shared with a therapist, and motivational support in the form of notifications.
Available for: Requires iOS 11.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Android 5.0 and up.
Developer: NOCD INC
Type of Treatment: Mindfulness, Psychoeducation & Information, Cognitive Behavioral Principles, (Exposure and Response Prevention, or ERP)
Targeted Conditions: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Target Audience: Not Specified
Designed to be used in conjunction with a professional? No
Languages Available: English
Cost: Free
Get it on: Apple App Store, Google Play
This pilot study wanted to investigate whether offering an integrated treatment with brief in person therapy accompanied with a mobile application (NOCD, previously nOCD) would be a way to increase access to obsessive-compulsive disorder treatment. 33 participants were enrolled into this 8 week open trial. The integrated treatment programs consisted of 3 to 5 in person meetings that were followed by weekly phone calls by NOCD. Participants were evaluated through trained raters and self-report measures at baseline, mid treatment, post treatment and 2 month follow up. The primary outcome was the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale. Of the 33 participants 14 (42%) responded to the treatment and 8 (24%) gained milder symptoms. The 2 month (n = 20) follow up revealed 7 (35%) met the criteria for treatment response and 3 (15%) met the criteria for treatment remission. (Hong, Sanchez, & Comer. 2020. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0005789420300666)
We review apps against rating criteria developed by experts in the field. Some of those criteria are:
We look at the research supporting the technology and the credibility of the development process.
We review privacy policies to see if key pieces of information about what happens with entered data are addressed.
We explore how fun, functional, easy-to-use, engaging, and interesting the technology is.
A professional in a relevant field downloads and uses the technology and writes a narrative review, highlighting pros & cons and some recommendations for use.