OCDvel

OCDvel is a theoretical framework used in psychology to characterize the temporal dynamics of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The name combines OCD with velocity, indicating an emphasis on the rate of change or fluctuation of symptoms over time. In this framework, researchers model symptom intensity as a time-varying signal and quantify features such as peak intensity, frequency of episodes, and the speed with which symptoms escalate or abate.

Implementation often uses data from ecological momentary assessment, digital diaries, or sensor-based monitoring. Variables include baseline severity, momentary distress, compulsive behavior frequency, and inter-event intervals. Derived metrics include velocity of change, autocorrelation, and burstiness.

History: The term is used in some scholarly discussions as a proposed dynamic model for OCD symptomatology; its adoption is exploratory and not yet standardized. The framework aims to complement traditional cross-sectional assessments by capturing how symptoms evolve in real time.

Criticism and limitations include questions of empirical validity, measurement burden, and privacy concerns; potential benefits include richer characterization of symptom dynamics and the possibility of informing real-time or adaptive interventions.

See also: digital phenotyping, ecological momentary assessment, dynamic systems modeling, psychiatry.