Obsessive compulsive disorder affects around 1 in 40 adults in the U.S., and for those who struggle with persistent, uncontrollable thoughts and impulses that come with OCD, living through today's ongoing coronavirus pandemic can seem nearly impossible to manage.
Combine that with social distancing orders around the country that may keep patients from venturing out to see a therapist, treating OCD during the COVID-19 crisis can be especially challenging. But a Chicago startup believes it's uniquely positioned to help people who suffer from OCD during this difficult time, and it's seeing a wave of new users join its platform.
NOCD, a Chicago startup founded in 2015, is a telehealth app that provides 1-on-1 virtual therapy sessions between OCD patients and licensed therapists. CEO Stephen Smith said video therapy sessions on its platform have more than doubled since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in early March, and its head of clinical services has seen more than 200 patients alone.
"The growth is occurring at a very fast rate," Smith said. "We are doing everything we can to scale and reach people at this point."
The coronavirus presents a particularly challenging situation for people who suffer from OCD, as patients are not only afraid of contracting the virus themselves, but also spreading it to others, Smith explained. Besides the coronavirus negatively impacting their mental health, OCD patients are more likely to visit emergency rooms and put additional strain on the health care system, even if they aren't showing any symptoms.
"To make those thoughts go away, they either wash their hands until they bleed, or they’ll go utilize important testing resources, even though they are asymptomatic," Smith said.
Along with offering live face-to-face video sessions with licensed therapists, NOCD offers additional self-help tools and connects patients to community groups who also suffer from OCD, allowing them to share their story and learn from others. NOCD has raised around $5 million in funding to date from investors like Chicago Ventures, 7Wire Ventures and Hyde Park Angels.
The startup's telehealth platform is live in around 20 states, and Smith said NOCD's live video sessions can reach about 80 percent of the U.S. population. The startup expects to have hundreds of clinicians on its platform in the coming months, Smith said.
Smith, who suffers from OCD himself and had to quit playing college football after his OCD symptoms became overwhelming, said the startup is adding to its team in Chicago to keep up with demand and help more people manage their disorder.
"NOCD is here to support the OCD community in any way possible," he said.
