Master’s Capstone
Organization
University Coursework
Duration
September 2013 to May 2014
OCD Assist: Persuasive Technology as an Aid in the Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Affecting nearly 2-3% of the world’s population (Khan, Markopoulos, & Spijksma, 2011), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can be debilitating to suffers if not treated appropriately. The possibility to incentivize OCD treatment (Heyman, 2009, p. 97) is a potentially interesting theory. To understand if persuasive technology can be successfully applied to the management of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), OCD Assist was developed. A trait that distinguishes OCD Assist from other electronic OCD support tools is the incorporation of virtual badges to incentivize treatment. The research also attempts to understand the impact competition has to encourage participants to better control their OCD obsessions and compulsions with incentives awarded for completing various tasks. The goal of OCD Assist is to identify if persuasive technology can encourage obsessive-compulsive disorder suffers to complete surveys and post to an online support group with badges as a motivational tool to continue treatment.
Responsibilities: Master’s Capstone