Brief intensive CBT for pediatric OCD with E-therapy maintenance

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Behavioural Therapy

Background:

• Paediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic condition.
• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the recommended first-line treatment.
• Access to evidence-based treatments for youth OCD remains limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of an intensive ERP-based treatment for youth diagnosed with OCD.
• To assess treatment outcomes using a multiple baseline controlled design.

Main Methods:

• Ten children and adolescents (aged 11-16) with OCD were recruited.
• Participants were randomly assigned to a 1- or 2-week baseline monitoring period before intervention.
• The intensive treatment included psychoeducation, ERP sessions, and e-therapy maintenance, assessed via parent, child, and clinician ratings at post-treatment and 6-month follow-up.

Main Results:

• Significant reductions in OCD symptoms were observed across most measures over time.
• 80% of participants achieved reliable and clinically significant improvement.
• Symptom remission rates were 60% at post-treatment, increasing to 70% at 6-month follow-up.

Conclusions:

• Intensive, time-limited ERP-based CBT is effective for treating paediatric OCD.
• This approach demonstrates strong support for improving outcomes in youth with OCD.
• The findings suggest a viable and effective treatment model for this population.